If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably found yourself revisiting the wild, colourful, heart-on-its-sleeve world of The Mitchells vs. the Machines in the past few years. That joy ride of a family adventure, a clashing of generational tech-anxieties, a robot apocalypse, road-trip vibes and above all, love. And with that the good news is that the gang is getting back in the car. The sequel is officially in development, with both Sony Pictures Animation and Netflix teaming up again.
According to Variety, Sony Pictures Animation has kicked off development on The Mitchells vs. the Machines 2, with Netflix once again set to release the film globally. This follow-up to the 2021 animated hit promises to bring back the same chaotic family energy, only this time with a few fresh creative twists behind the wheel. The film is being directed by Guillermo Martinez and JP Sans, two talents from the original movie’s animation team who know exactly what made the Mitchells so special. Their authenticity, awkwardness, and absolute refusal to fit neatly into any box. And that’s part of the beauty of this franchise. The Mitchells aren’t your sleek, superhero-grade animated family. They’re messy, weird, emotional, and imperfect in the most human way possible, which is exactly why audiences connected with them so deeply the first time around. From the awkward home videos to the family arguments over Wi-Fi, the film captured what it means to love your family even when you barely understand them.
This sequel is shaping up with an intriguing new creative team. Sisters Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin, known for their sharp, character-driven humour on Bob’s Burgers, are writing the screenplay. That’s an inspired move, the Molyneux sisters have a knack for juggling heartfelt absurdity and quick, intelligent dialogue, which fits perfectly with the Mitchells’ brand of family mayhem. Expect plenty of warmth, wit, and unfiltered truth between the lines. What’s even more exciting is that the original producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the duo behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and The Lego Movie, are still attached. Their fingerprints are all over the Mitchells universe with that blend of anarchic humour, emotional honesty, and high-energy storytelling that somehow manages to make you laugh and cry at the same time. Their continued involvement practically guarantees the sequel won’t lose that spark.
Sony and Netflix are being tight-lipped about the story, but let’s be honest, that’s half the fun. The first film gave us a tech apocalypse sparked by a rogue AI assistant, an on-the-road survival odyssey, and a family rediscovering what connection really means. Where could the sequel possibly go from there?
Maybe Katie Mitchell, now in college, finds herself struggling to stay connected with her family again, only for a new kind of digital disaster to force another reunion. Or perhaps it’s the parents’ turn to take centre stage this time, as they navigate their own midlife reinventions in a world still recovering from, well, robot chaos. Whatever the setup, one thing’s for sure, the Mitchells’ gift for turning dysfunction into love (and disaster into laughter) will still be the heart of it all.
When The Mitchells vs. the Machines first dropped, it looked revolutionary. The film mixed hand-drawn textures with 3D animation, bursts of doodles and scribbles reflecting Katie’s filmmaker imagination, and a colour palette that felt straight out of an electric dream. It was vibrant, kinetic, and full of life, a visual language that mirrored the emotional chaos of the Mitchell family. With this sequel, Sony Pictures Animation has the opportunity to push that style even further. The studio has been on a creative hot streak, thanks to the Spider-Verse films, and there’s a real possibility that The Mitchells 2 could expand on that look, blending bold storytelling with visuals that pop right off the screen. If the original felt like someone turned family therapy into a rock concert, the sequel could crank the amp even higher.
It’s been a long time coming. The Mitchells vs. the Machines became one of Netflix’s biggest animated hits, earning an Oscar nomination and quickly cementing itself as a modern family classic. Fans have been asking for a sequel ever since, and now that it’s finally happening, the excitement is real. The combination of new creative voices, the returning energy of Lord and Miller, and the boundless potential of this world make it one of the most promising animated follow-ups on the horizon. The Mitchells may have saved the world once, but let’s face it, the world could use their dysfunctional heroics again.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines 2 isn’t just another sequel announcement; it’s the return of one of the most original animated families of the decade. Between its heart, humour, and humanity, the first film set a bar that’s hard to top. But if anyone can outdo the Mitchells, it’s the Mitchells themselves.
So buckle up, the weirdest, most lovable family in animation is about to hit the road again. And something tells me, this time, they’re not just facing robots… they’re facing what it really means to grow, connect, and keep loving through the madness.
