If Inside Out 2 spawns more sequels, Amy Poehler, the voice of Joy, knows where she wants to take the series.
The Inside Out series depicts the inner workings and emotions of a young girl, Riley (voiced by Kensington Tallman in the sequel). In the first film, Riley is grappling with her parents moving to a new city. In the sequel, she’s dealing with the transition to her teenage years.
The natural next step would be following Riley into high school or college. Speaking to Empire, Poehler expressed her desire to continue making sequels in the Pixar franchise as Riley grows up. Her plan is akin to Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy and she wants to catch up with Riley at every new stage of her life.
“I just think they should make these films like Seven Up, every couple of years in Riley’s life,” Poehler told the outlet. “A young adult, and a young mother, and I think a middle-aged person — everyone’s having these very distinct new emotions that are showing up all the time.”
The best film Amy Poehler has been in and returning for a sequel
As for the first film, Poehler looks back on it fondly. She called Inside Out the “best film” that she has been a part of.
“It was super-emotional, and I felt so proud to be in it,” she said. “I still maintain it’s probably the best film I’ve ever been in.”
Even still, she wanted to return for a sequel. “This is where Joy and I dovetail,” Poehler said of her character. “You can’t let that fear stop you from action. You have to act. What Joy would say about it — and what I would too — is, ‘What are you going to do? Not make it, because you’re afraid it’s not going to be good? We just have to do it.’”
Amy Poehler is widely known for her time on Saturday Night Live (SNL) and Parks and Recreation. She has appeared in Tina Fey films such as Mean Girls and Sisters as well. Her other film credits include The House, Wine Country, A Very Murray Christmas, and Moxie.
Inside Out 2 will follow Riley as she becomes a teenager. Joy (Poehler) returns alongside Sadness (Phyllis Smith), and Anger (Lewis Black). Fear and Disgust return as well, though Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling have been recast. Tony Hale and Liza Lapira take over the roles.
Maya Hawke will be introduced in the film as a new emotion, Anxiety. Ayo Edebiri will also make her debut in the Pixar film as Envy. Paul Walter Hauser and Adèle Exarchopoulos will voice two more emotions, Embarrassment and Ennui, respectively.
The sequel comes nearly nine full years after its predecessor. Inside Out was a huge hit for Disney and Pixar, grossing over $850 million worldwide at the box office.
