Remy voice actor Patton Oswalt reveals the condition that must be met for a Ratatouille sequel to happen. Directed by Brad Bird and Jan Pinkava, the Pixar film was released in 2007, quickly becoming one of the company’s most beloved offerings.
The animated hit follows Remy, a rat who can cook, as he partners with garbage boy Alfredo Linguini (Lou Romano) to make a splash at a famous restaurant in Paris. Despite the film’s acclaim and commercial success, Ratatouille 2 hasn’t materialized.
During a recent interview with Collider, Oswalt comments on the prospect of a Ratatouille 2, revealing that the only way a sequel will happen is if Bird comes up with a strong idea. That evidently hasn’t happened yet, and the star says he’s just fine with leaving that story be. Check out Oswalt’s full comment below:
“You just said the key to it. The world where that exists is where Brad thinks of a great idea, and until he does that, it’s not gonna happen. So I’m totally happy with no sequel unless he comes up with something amazing. And I trust in Brad.”
What This Means For Ratatouille 2
Ratatouille enjoys a glowing 96% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a strong 87% Popcornmeter score. The Pixar movie also grossed over $623 million at the box office, making it a financial win. That’s not to mention the undoubted success the movie has had on home-viewing platforms in the almost two decades since its release.
This kind of reception has surely left the door open for a sequel, but one historic Pixar strength is that the studio does not pursue a sequel just because the original was popular. Pixar sequels tend to be well-received, with the films generally being praised as worthwhile continuations of their respective stories. Look no further than the acclaimed Inside Out 2 last summer.
Just because Bird hasn’t yet come up with an idea for a Ratatouille sequel, though, doesn’t mean a follow-up will never happen. Bird also directed 2004’s The Incredibles, for example, a modern Pixar classic, and it ended up taking him 14 years to make the well-received Incredibles 2 (2018).
The Incredibles 3 is now confirmed, but Bird won’t be directing. Elemental (2023) director Peter Sohn (who also voiced Emile in Ratatouille) will be at the helm, with Bird serving as writer and executive producer.
Though Bird evidently felt there was a story worth pursuing with The Incredibles 2, he did express to io9 in 2019 a general lack of interest in returning to stories that have already been told when he was asked about the prospect of Ratatouille 2. He explained:
“No one apparently wants anything new anymore. I’m a little at odds with society on that. I would like to do some new things.”
Our Take On A Potential Ratatouille 2
The Ratatouille ending wraps up the story for Remy and Linguini on a happy and satisfying note. If that is the last time those characters appear in a movie, the tale leaves little to be desired in terms of answers about what comes next.
That being said, it could be interesting to pick things up for Remy and Linguini more than a decade later. A sequel could explore what has become of the restaurant and their relationship while incorporating new ideas and challenges facing the world of culinary arts today.
With the popularity of shows like The Bear, there could definitely be an audience for a Pixar-style exploration of the world of fine dining. It remains to be seen whether a follow-up to Ratatouille ever happens, but it’s clear that the future of this franchise rests on Bird’s shoulders.
