In a sequel-obsessed market, Brad Bird says no to “Ratatouille 2.” The director shared his thoughts in a Collider interview. When asked if he wanted to make the sequel to Pixar classic, he replied, “No I don’t.”
Bird said Pixar has occasionally raised the idea of a sequel. The director explained, “They’ve made little feints towards that to see how I would react. They’ll, like, crack a joke, but the joke will be a little bit serious, like, ‘Would you?’ And I’m like, ‘No, we told that story.’ ”
Bird’s Comments about Sequels
Bird said he understands why audiences often request sequels for films they enjoy. However, he does not believe every successful movie requires another installment.
Any time you do something that ends up connecting with people, they automatically think, ‘How about another?’ People have mentioned it about The Iron Giant, which is hilarious to me because the film didn’t succeed at all in its initial release. It’s caught up in time, but what would you do to follow that up? He’s lumbering around, still undiscovered? In other words, to me, that story is told.
Screenshot from Ratatouille – YouTube, DisneyKids
However, Bird has shown he is willing to revisit franchises if there is still a story to be told. “Now, The Incredibles — I could see another Incredibles film,” he told Steve Weintraub of Collider.
He returned to write and direct Incredibles 2 in 2018 after directing the original The Incredibles in 2004. He is also involved with The Incredibles 3 as a writer and producer, although Peter Sohn will direct the film.
Patton Oswalt Said He Would Return as Remy
Actor Patton Oswalt, who voiced Remy in Ratatouille, expressed interest in returning for a sequel just last month. “Obviously, I’d love if there was a ‘Ratatouille’ sequel,” Oswalt shared.
However, Oswalt shared that he did not want a sequel to be forced. He shared that many times sequels come because writers decide there has to be a sequel, then try to figure out the story. “There are a lot of movies where that’s how they’re done, and it always feels inorganic.”
Patton Oswalt voiced Remy in Ratatouille – YouTube, VidereTrailer
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Instead, Oswalt said he was open to a sequel if there was a story worth telling.
“I want the sequel to be not the same type of movie, but that same energy that ‘Terminator 2’ or ‘Aliens’ had, which is, there’s an expansion of the story that we that we actually need to tell… This isn’t just a money grab. And yes, by the way, we love the money, and we’re gonna grab it, but we’re gonna get the money by telling an amazing story with whole new dimensions that we didn’t even know beforehand.”
Ratatouille Remains a Standalone Pixar Film
Released in 2007, Ratatouille follows Remy, a rat with a highly developed sense of taste who dreams of becoming a chef in Paris. He forms an unlikely partnership with Alfredo Linguini, a young kitchen worker, as they navigate the demanding world of fine dining while trying to preserve the legacy of Gusteau’s restaurant.
The film was directed by Brad Bird and produced by Pixar Animation Studios. It received five Academy Award nominations and won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 80th Academy Awards.
Screenshot from Trailer – YouTube, VidereTrailer
The movie also performed well commercially. It earned approximately $623.7 million worldwide during its theatrical release.
Conclusion
Many have noted the “sequel fatigue” among modern audiences. Hollywood has found nostalgia is often a safe bet for good numbers at the box office. However, many fans only want another story from beloved characters if it is actually a story worth telling. Perhaps Brad Bird gets it. And perhaps Ratatouille is movie memory that can remain untainted by subpar cash-grabs of the same name.
What do you think of Bird’s comments? Is he right to leave that franchise as is? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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