Up a great bird adventure was a beloved animated film released by Pixar in 2009. The movie told the story of an elderly widower named Carl Fredricksen who ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to South America, realizing a lifelong dream of adventure with his now deceased wife Ellie. Along the way, Carl befriends a young wilderness explorer named Russell and has run-ins with a rare but adorable flightless bird named Kevin. The film was a huge critical and commercial success upon its release, praised for its imaginative story, vibrant visuals, memorable score, and poignant themes of loss, grief, and finding meaning in life. So with such a fantastic film that resonated with audiences young and old, one might wonder: what happened to the possibility of a sequel? Why didn’t Pixar make Up 2?
Why Pixar Often Avoids Direct Sequels
First, it’s important to understand Pixar’s general philosophy when it comes to sequels. The acclaimed animation studio has famously avoided making direct sequels to most of their movies over the years. Out of Pixar’s 25 feature films to date, only five have received direct sequels: Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, Toy Story 4, Monsters University, and The Incredibles 2. Pixar’s late co-founder and former Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter was generally not a fan of sequels unless the story merited it. The general preference has been to tell original stories with each new film rather than revisit old characters. So for a Pixar sequel to happen, there typically needs to be a compelling creative reason and storyline that goes beyond just commercial motivations.
Up’s Story Felt Self-Contained
In the case of Up, director Pete Docter and his team designed the film to work as a self-contained narrative that took Carl on a complete journey, both literally and emotionally. The film essentially chronicles the old man’s last grand adventure, accepting and moving past his grief over losing his wife Ellie and realizing it’s never too late to pursue your dreams. By the end, Carl has found closure, a newfound appreciation of life, and a surrogate family in young Russell and Kevin the bird. There was no narrative thread left dangling that demanded an immediate follow-up. The story came to a satisfying conclusion that likely resonated more deeply by NOT having sequels or continuing adventures that would dilute the themes.
The Main Character’s Age Presented Challenges
Additionally, Carl Fredricksen’s advanced age would have presented challenges in plausibly bringing him back for further adventures. He is 78 years old in the first film, already requiring a cane to get around. Realistically, an octogenarian Carl would probably have limited mobility and stamina for grand trips across the globe. While a prequel featuring a younger Carl and Ellie could perhaps work, Pixar felt the emotional core of Up centered around Carl’s old age. Changing that would risk losing the poignancy.
The Director Moved On to Other Films
Finally, after completing Up, director Pete Docter shifted his focus to making other highly original films such as Inside Out and Soul rather than producing a sequel. Both of those films went on to receive huge critical acclaim and fanbases of their own. Like John Lasseter, Docter seems to prefer telling new visual stories rather than getting boxed into sequels or prequels once he has completed a film.
So in summary, while Disney loves expanding popular brands and characters into sequels when possible, the storytelling philosophy of Pixar makes that less of a given. And in the specific case of Up, both the containment of the narrative and the realities of Carl Fredricksen’s old age meant that further films were unlikely to measure up to the artistic heights and emotional resonance of the original.
Does Pixar Make Exceptions?
All that being said, Pixar IS willing to make sequels under the right conditions. Toy Story 2 was one of their earliest and most acclaimed. And in recent years, they greenlit sequels/prequels to Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc, The Incredibles, and Cars in cases where the filmmakers were inspired by the prospect. So one can never say never. Pete Docter has said he’d consider an Up sequel if they could find a storyline that captured the spirit of the original. But so far, that spark of inspiration hasn’t struck as it did for bringing back characters like Lightning McQueen or Woody and Buzz. So for now, Up fans will have to be content re-watching Carl and Ellie’s poignant tale on its own terms.
What the Cast and Creators Have Said
Looking beyond speculation, what have the actual cast and creators said over the years about the prospects of an Up sequel? Here are a few illuminating quotes:
Pete Docter on why Up 2 is unlikely: “Sequels are tough because you don’t want to do the same movie again. What worked so well is that it was a surprise. Once you know the ending then it just becomes a different story. You put your socks on just like you did yesterday. So it’s finding something that has equal power and meaning but doing something different.”
Ed Asner on returning as Carl: “I’d come back as Carl if Pixar asked me. I can’t imagine what the hell the sequel would be about, but it was one of the warmest experiences I’ve had making a film.”
Bob Peterson on a Dug the Dog spin-off: “I don’t think Dug with squirrel! is ever going to happen, but it’s fun to speculate. Stranger things have happened, especially if enough fans lobby for it I suppose.”
Up producer Jonas Rivera: “We get asked all the time about Up 2! But it’s not in development. We feel Up is best left alone as its own story. If we came up with an idea that felt worthy and respected the original, we’d consider it though.”
So in a nutshell, principals like Docter feel Carl’s story stands alone and sequels could diminish its power. But the door isn’t completely closed if inspiration struck down the line, even if fans shouldn’t hold their breath. And the charming canine character Dug has been mentioned as spin-off potential, though again, no current plans.
Why Fans Still Want an Up Sequel
Although Pete Docter and Pixar have valid reasons against pursuing Up 2, many fans still clamor to return to that whimsical world. Why the enduring eagerness and speculation about a sequel despite the unlikelihood?
- Carl, Russell, Dug and Kevin remain beloved, memorable characters that people wish to see again.
- The film’s colorful, adventurous aesthetic offers almost unlimited visual potential for new locations.
- Younger viewers who saw it as children are now grown up and nostalgic for revisiting the story.
- The uplifting themes and emotional resonance struck a chord that fans want to experience again.
- Docter planting the seed of possibility, however slim, keeps hopes alive.
Ultimately though, the original Up works precisely because it IS self-contained. Much like Carl’s relationship with Ellie, the film’s appeal stems from presenting a complete journey full of humor, poignancy and nostalgia. And that would be difficult for any sequel to recapture or improve upon.
Imagining What Up 2 Could Explore
All that being said, Up’s fantastical premise and characters still inspire fun hypothetical ideas for potential sequels, even if they’ll likely remain what-ifs:
- A Russell-focused adventure dealing with challenges of growing up.
- Carl mentoring a new young companion in place of Russell.
- Carl re-uniting with long-lost family members.
- Traveling to Asia or Australia for a new continent’s worth of wonder.
- Kevin finding a mate and having chicks.
- Dug and Alpha’s dog pack getting into more mischief.
The mere concept sparks the imagination, even if capturing the magic again would be a tall order story-wise. So fans will continue floating Up 2 scenarios, while Pixar focuses on new tales.
Why Speculation Persists Years Later
In summary, here are the key reasons interest in and speculation around an Up sequel endures over a decade later:
- Pure fan nostalgia and love for the original film’s imagination.
- Docter teasing the possibility however unlikely, leaving a glimmer of hope.
- Pixar occasionally bucking against sequels, so it COULD happen.
- New generations of kids discovering and loving the characters.
- Studios love leveraging established franchises when possible.
So don’t be surprised if Up 2 rumors and theories persist for years to come. But a direct big-screen sequel likely remains a literal flight of fantasy, with the original feature continuing to uplift on its own merits.
Conclusion
In the end, Up seems destined to be that rare, almost perfectly encapsulated gem in Pixar’s crown – a poignant, completed journey not demanding continuation. Carl Fredricksen found adventure and closure. Fans were gifted a unique, emotional experience. And the filmmakers moved on to new creative challenges, just as life inevitably marches forward. That forward-focused spirit defined Up itself. So although the imagination soars at possibilities of Up 2, the original will likely long stand alone as the Pixar feature that lifted hearts and spirits to the sky.