Walt Disney Pictures
With Frozen becoming the highest grossing animated flick of all time, Disney’s definitely in the place to keep developing their other beloved franchises. Wreck-It Ralph, the 2012 film that told us that video game villains can be people too, is in the process of getting its sequel, according to the film’s composer Henry Jackman.
Jackman spoke to Collider recently in a sprawling interview about Captain America: The Winter Soldier, of which he composed the score (he’s also the man behind the music of Captain Phillips, X-Men: First Class, G.I. Joe Retaliation and This is the End) , and confirmed that the studio is currently writing up the script for a second dose of Wreck-It Ralph. At this point, the details are hazy on what that sequel entails, but Jackman was confident that it is indeed happening.
“I can’t tell you more, not because I’m being coy, but I believe that it is officially on the cards,” he said. “I don’t know any more other than a story is indeed being written. I’d be very surprised not to. I’m not blowing my own trumpet. Forget about the music. Just the movie itself I thought was a fantastically imaginative and creative piece of work.”
Wreck-It Ralph, of course, is the story that followed a misunderstood arcade game villain (John C. Reilly), a gentle giant of a destroyer named Ralph who just wanted to fit in with the rest of the characters in his game – Fix-It Felix Jr. – and get their same level of respect. He gets the chance when he escapes his console and accidentally sets off a chain of events that leads to the arcade games getting shut off because they appear to be malfunctioning. It’s up to Ralph to help the other game characters succeed in their own worlds, as well as repair his own so that they can safely return home again.
The film was an undeniable success, grossing $189M in its run back in 2012 and winning the approval of kids and parents alike who were charmed by the antics of Reilly and the rest of the star-studded, computer-animated cast, which included Jane Lynch, Sarah Silverman, Alan Tudyk and Jack McBrayer. Where Wreck-It Ralph 2 could go from the first film is a bit of a mystery, since Ralph got what he wanted; with his enemies defeated and the arcade saved, Ralph became a hero.
The sequel will most likely pit Ralph, now living in harmony in the world of Fix-It Felix, against new creatures (like the cy-bugs of the first film) that threaten his game and the others in the arcade. Or perhaps now that he’s a “reformed” villain,” there will be a newbie looking for some guidance – that fantastic villain support group scene would be able to get a second go, if that’s the case. Anything that gets more John C. Reilly into the world is a worthy project.
When the film will happen is still up in the air, but it likely won’t be for awhile; Disney has Big Hero 6 slated for November 2014 and Zootopia for 2016.