(Welcome to Will There Be a Sequel?, a series where we examine what follows and provide an answer to that topic.)
2012 saw the release of “Brave.” As is typical of their work, Disney and Pixar’s animated ode to Scotland was a huge success. Contrary to many other successful Pixar films over the years, we haven’t seen a sequel for Up yet. We’re going to examine the likelihood of picking up with Merida in “Brave 2” now, almost ten years later.
What Is Brave?
Pixar’s first fairytale is “Brave.” Brenda Chapman came up with the idea, however Mark Andrews eventually took over as director after she had a disagreement with the company. It is centred on the young Merida and is located in Scotland. She is determined to carve out her own place as a member of a royal dynasty, holding a bow in her hand and sporting a head full of luscious red hair.
Here is a summary of “Brave” for those who may have missed it recently:
Merida, an impulsive young lady and daughter to King Fergus and Queen Elinor, is determined to carve her own path in life. Defying the age-old and sacred customs, Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury with the other Scottish Lords, and in the process she stumbles upon an eccentric and wise old woman who grants her ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the true meaning of bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.
What’s Been Said About Brave 2?
Over the years, there has been some sporadic discussion about a “Brave” sequel. However, nothing firm has been established. Mark Andrews stated that he would be interested in returning to that universe if the proper script came along in 2013, not long after the film’s premiere.
“If we got the right story it would be fun to get the gang back together again, add a few more new characters and find out what other Scottish talents are out there that might want to do a animated fun. I don’t know if there will be another one. We never make a film at Pixar to have a sequel.”
More recently, Pixar’s Jim Morris underlined that the company is more about filmmakers in 2016 in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. It’s not always about trying to make a successful movie’s sequel.
“Most studios jump on doing a sequel as soon as they have a successful film, but our business model is a filmmaker model, and we don’t make a sequel unless the director of the original film has an idea that they like and are willing to go forward on.”
A Brave Sequel Seems Unlikely, At Least for Now
Aside from the absence of press coverage, the majority of the creative team has left. Both “Ghost Squad” and “Come Away” were directed by Brenda Chapman last year. While away from Pixar, Mark Andrews is currently working on Netflix’s “Super Giant Robot Brothers,” which is scheduled to release in 2022. Beyond the creative crew, Pixar has both “Turning Red” and “Lightyear” scheduled for release through 2022.
Therefore, “Brave 2” doesn’t appear to be taking place. Certainly not anytime soon. However, with the launch of Disney+, a continuance of the franchise in some capacity doesn’t seem entirely improbable.