Disney Has No Plans for an ‘Encanto’ Sequel Right Now, but the Door Isn’t Closed

Few Disney animated films have stuck around in pop culture the way ‘Encanto’ has. Since its 2021 release, the story of the Madrigal family has become a streaming favorite, a soundtrack juggernaut and a staple of parks and merchandise, helped along by the chart-topping ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’.

The film earned more than $200 million at the box office and took home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. With songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda and a story directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, it quickly became a cultural phenomenon, and executives were calling it a franchise within a year of its release.

That popularity has fueled years of sequel speculation. Now there is a clear update from the studio side. Speaking to The Direct, Walt Disney Animation Studios creative executive Yvett Merino said there have been no discussions about greenlighting a second movie, answering the question simply with “No, but I’m always here for it.”

Merino, who produced ‘Encanto’ as the first movie she ever worked on, spoke while promoting Disney’s new animated film ‘Hexed’. She said she is enthusiastic about the possibility of more stories in the world, telling the outlet that anything connected to ‘Encanto’ is something she would be in for.

So the answer isn’t a cancellation. It is a statement of where things stand today, which is that no sequel is in development, and nothing has been officially announced.

The comments also contrast with earlier hints. In 2023, Merino told the same outlet that Disney would continue to look at different ways to keep the world alive, including through stories and park attractions, and that she was excited to see it expand across the company.

Over the years, others have suggested a follow-up might be closer. Miranda has said a sequel was a question of when and not if, John Leguizamo, who voiced Bruno, once said Disney was working on a second film, and Bush has said it was always their dream to do more. None of those comments led to an official announcement.

The only confirmed project connected to the film is a theme park attraction. Disney has announced an ‘Encanto’ attraction for Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida, set to open in 2027, and Merino pointed fans there when asked where to find more of the world.

Meanwhile, Stephanie Beatriz, who voices Mirabel, has said she would love to work with the creative team again, but that they were occupied with other projects at the time. Bush and Howard have been busy with ‘Zootopia 2’, which helps explain why a sequel hasn’t moved faster.

The studio also has no shortage of sequels already lined up. Reports point to ‘Zootopia 2’, a third ‘Frozen’ movie and new ‘Incredibles’ and ‘Coco’ sequels from Pixar, which leaves little room on the calendar for another follow-up right now.

Disney has been leaning heavily on sequels in recent years, but it has been selective about which ones it greenlights. For ‘Encanto’, the lack of a clear story may also be a factor, since the first film wrapped up the Madrigals’ central arc, which makes it harder to find an obvious hook for a second chapter.

Nothing in the update rules it out. Merino’s tone suggests there is genuine affection for the property inside the studio, and the film’s enduring popularity gives it a strong case whenever the timing is right.

Past statements from the creative team also show there is interest in other formats, including a Disney+ series centered on a member of the family. Bush has said he would happily see a show about any of the characters, and Charise Castro Smith said Miranda wants one about Dolores.

For now, ‘Encanto’ fans will have to be patient. The next chance to visit the Madrigals will likely be at the park attraction in 2027, rather than in theaters or on Disney+.

That might disappoint those hoping for a quick announcement, but it also keeps the door open. As Merino’s answer shows, the interest is there, and all it would take is the right story at the right time.

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