As any worthy sequel ought to do, "Inside Out 2" builds upon the captivating concepts established in its predecessor. After achieving a harmonious balance within Riley's emotional landscape in the first film, Joy and her team are abruptly thrown into a whirlwind with the arrival of a barrage of novel emotions. Riley's transition into her teenage years brings about profound transformations in her emotional core, as Anxiety, Ennui, Envy, and Embarrassment usurp her once-familiar emotions.
In March 2024, a comprehensive trailer for "Inside Out 2" was unveiled, finally revealing many of the new emotions that were merely teased in the teaser. Alongside Anxiety, who was briefly introduced earlier, the trailer introduces Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment to Riley's emotional pantheon. Furthermore, Joy and the remainder of her original emotional posse find themselves overshadowed and relegated to the sidelines as the more volatile emotions of Riley's adolescence strive for dominance.
Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, and Lewis Black reprise their roles as Joy, Sadness, and Anger, respectively. Tony Hale (from "Toy Story 4" and "Arrested Development") and Liza Lapira ("The Equalizer") join the cast as Fear and Disgust. Hale and Lapira step in for Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling, who declined to reprise their roles due to a pay dispute. Reports indicate that they and the returning cast members were offered a mere $100,000, a stark contrast to Poehler's $5 million (with additional lucrative bonuses) — a mere two percent of her paycheck.
Maya Hawke ("Do Revenge," "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood") lends her voice to Anxiety, one of the fresh emotions that invade Riley's mind upon turning 13. The three other newcomers, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment, are voiced by Ayo Edebiri, Adèle Exarchopoulos, and Paul Walter Hauser, respectively.
"Inside Out 2" is slated for a theatrical release on June 14, 2024, nearly nine years to the day after the original film captivated audiences on June 19, 2015.
