Chris Sanders and Lupita Nyong’o Eager to Revisit The Wild Robot as DreamWorks Scores Another Animated Hit

Chris Sanders is thrilled at the possibility of returning to The Wild Robot for another round of heartwarming adventures. In a candid conversation with NBC Insider, Sanders didn’t shy away from expressing his excitement about a potential sequel. When asked about continuing the journey of ROZZUM Unit 7134, better known as Roz, and her animal companions, the director’s enthusiasm was palpable. “I would very much like to,” he shared. “The animation team for The Wild Robot went above and beyond. They truly poured themselves into this film, and I was right there with them. It’s a project that became a labor of love for everyone at the studio, and honestly, I’d love to stay in this world for a little longer.”

This love for The Wild Robot isn’t limited to Sanders. Lupita Nyong’o, the talented voice behind Roz, echoed similar sentiments when asked about reprising the role. “Oh, my goodness, yes!” she exclaimed. “I absolutely adore Roz. This project means so much to me. And lucky for us, Peter Brown wrote three books, so there’s more to explore. I would revisit Roz in a heartbeat.”

For fans of The Wild Robot, this is exciting news, especially given how well the film has been received. Since its release last month, it has been showered with universal acclaim, currently holding a stellar 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes. With this, The Wild Robot is now DreamWorks’ highest-rated animated film, following in the footsteps of the beloved How to Train Your Dragon. Sanders credits the film’s distinctive visuals for its success, revealing that it broke away from the usual CG animations, opting instead for a unique blend of hand-painted backgrounds and wildlife alongside Roz’s computer-generated appearance. A particularly beautiful detail is how, as Roz adapts to life on the island, her CG surface slowly transforms into a hand-painted one by the third act, symbolizing her integration into her new home.

DreamWorks Hits Another Home Run

The Wild Robot isn’t the only triumph for DreamWorks this year. Other 2024 hits from the studio include Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate, Kung Fu Panda 4, and The Bad Guys: Haunted Heist, which has been a hit on Netflix. Looking ahead, DreamWorks has even more to offer, with fans eagerly anticipating Shrek 5 and Dog Man, another adaptation from Dav Pilkey’s popular children’s books.

Not to be outdone, Disney also made waves this year. Inside Out 2 not only received glowing reviews but went on to smash box office records, becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time—surpassing The Lion King and Frozen II.

But that’s not all September had to offer in the animated world. Transformers One, a prequel to the beloved franchise, earned positive reviews and brought in $97 million on a $75 million budget, a solid win for fans of the franchise. And for those who crave even more animated goodness, the critically acclaimed Flow is slated to hit theaters later this year.

With so many exciting animated films gracing the big screen, there’s no shortage of creativity, storytelling, and innovation to enjoy. And as for The Wild Robot, it seems we might not have seen the last of Roz just yet. If Chris Sanders and Lupita Nyong’o have anything to say about it, we’ll be back on the island soon, continuing the adventure. Catch The Wild Robot in theaters now!

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