Pixar Just Confirmed ‘Coco 2’ Is Coming as Ernesto de la Cruz Wants Revenge on a Teenage Miguel – Check Out the First Look

Pixar’s 2017 musical masterpiece has held a special place in fans’ hearts for nearly a decade now, blending heartfelt family storytelling with a vibrant celebration of Día de los Muertos that resonated far beyond its original box office run. Ever since Disney confirmed a sequel was in the works, fans have been eager for any real sense of what that next chapter might look like.

That wait has stretched on for well over a year, with details on the follow-up kept largely under wraps since its initial announcement. D23 has increasingly become the venue where Pixar chooses to finally break its silence on projects like this, and this year’s event proved no exception.

Pixar officially confirmed ‘Coco 2‘ during the Disney Entertainment Showcase, revealing that the sequel will arrive in theaters on November 21, 2029, alongside new concept art depicting a much older version of the franchise’s beloved hero. The artwork showed a teenage Miguel walking alongside his dog Dante, sporting a fresh haircut but still carrying his signature guitar.

Actor Benjamin Bratt took the stage to confirm he’s reprising his role as the film’s central villain, Ernesto de la Cruz, teasing the character’s return with a playful warning to the crowd. “Prepare yourselves, amigos. De la Cruz will be back,” Bratt told the D23 audience, before elaborating further on his character’s motivations in the sequel.

Bratt didn’t hold back describing his character’s darker turn, framing Ernesto’s return as driven entirely by vengeance. “To some, Miguel is a little menace who ruined a career and destroyed a legacy,” Bratt explained. “Ernesto de la Cruz is back for revenge, sending Miguel on an adventure back to the land of the dead. Proving fate has a sense of humor, Miguel must team up with a handsome superstar: me.”

The reveal confirms that ‘Coco 2’ takes place several years after the events of the original film, with Miguel now navigating adolescence rather than childhood. Reports from the panel also indicated that Miguel’s abuela will play a role in helping guide the teenager through his return trip to the Land of the Dead.

Behind the camera, original ‘Coco’ director Lee Unkrich is returning to helm the sequel alongside Adrian Molina, who co-wrote and co-directed the 2017 film. Mark Nielsen, a Pixar veteran whose producing credits include ‘Toy Story 4’ and ‘Inside Out 2’, is attached to produce the new installment.

Unkrich brings a decorated résumé to the project, having previously won an Oscar for directing ‘Toy Story 3’ and co-directed early Pixar classics including ‘Finding Nemo’, ‘Monsters, Inc.’, and ‘Toy Story 2’. He had originally stepped away from directing back in 2019 to spend more time with his family before returning for this sequel.

The songwriting team behind the original film’s beloved soundtrack, including Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, is expected to contribute new music for the sequel as well, continuing the musical tradition that helped define the first film’s emotional core. The original ‘Coco’ grossed $822.4 million worldwide after its 2017 release, becoming both a critical and commercial success for the studio.

Pixar’s decision to release ‘Coco 2’ during the November corridor mirrors the original film’s own Thanksgiving-weekend release strategy, a timing choice that lines up neatly with the Día de los Muertos holiday itself. It remains unclear whether Anthony Gonzalez, who voiced the original Miguel, will return to voice the character as a teenager in the sequel.

With a firm release date now locked in and Ernesto’s vengeful return confirmed, ‘Coco 2’ has quickly become one of the most anticipated entries in Pixar’s upcoming slate.

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