Sony Pictures Powers Up The Mitchells vs. The Machines 2

Good news for anyone who still quotes the dog with the loaf of bread: The Mitchells are getting a sequel. Sony Pictures Animation is moving ahead with a follow-up to the 2021 hit, and Netflix is back in the mix to release it.

So, who is steering this thing?

Variety says Sony has tapped Guillermo Martinez and JP Sans to direct, with Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin writing the script. On the producing side, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are on board through their Lord Miller banner, and Kurt Albrecht is producing for Sony Pictures Animation.

What do we know about the story?

Plot is locked down for now. If you need a refresher on the first movie: it followed Katie Mitchell (voiced by Abbi Jacobson), a film-school-bound creative who hits the road with her proudly analog dad Rick (Danny McBride), relentlessly positive mom Linda (Maya Rudolph), and dinosaur-obsessed little brother Aaron (Mike Rianda) for one last family trip. Then a rogue AI flips the global 'off switch' on humanity, and this very normal, very chaotic family has to save everyone. It was equal parts heart, hysteria, and hand-drawn-scribble energy.

The essentials at a glance

• Title: The Mitchells vs. The Machines 2 (in development at Sony Pictures Animation)
• Directors: Guillermo Martinez and JP Sans
• Writers: Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin
• Producers: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Lord Miller), with Kurt Albrecht for Sony Pictures Animation
• Distributor: Netflix, via Sony and Netflix's ongoing licensing arrangement
• The studios say this round will be a 'more collaborative partnership'
• Flashback: The original film was once titled 'Connected' and was headed to theaters in 2020
• Then COVID happened, plans shifted, and Netflix bought distribution for a bit north of $110 million
• It turned into a big streaming win, praised for its humor, heart, and sharp, stylized animation

'More collaborative partnership'

Why this is interesting

The first movie went from a theatrical play to a Netflix rescue that paid off. Now, Sony and Netflix are not just repeating the arrangement; they are apparently tightening the workflow between the two companies. Given how well the Mitchells clicked with families and animation fans at home, this sequel feels like a no-brainer.

No plot teases yet, no release date yet. But with the creative team locked and Netflix onboard from the jump, expect this one to come together with fewer detours than last time.