WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Pixar's Incredibles 2, in theaters now.
Writer/director Brad Bird is proof that patience is indeed a virtue, and good things do come to those who wait. Fourteen years after The Incredibles hit theaters, Incredibles 2 continues the swashbuckling journey of the Parr family, only this time it's not against the bratty Syndrome, but the cape-hating PR machine known as Screenslaver.
With the sequel off to a tremendous start at the box office, fans are already wondering whether a threequel will be made. The thing is, although Bird has steered clear of advocating franchising, he has a hit series on his hands. And while his other tentpole movies have been singular outings, there are actually a few reasons why he's more than likely to make a follow-up to Incredibles 2.
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In fact, it's not a matter of if, but when -- which, when it comes to this filmmaker, is the most difficult factor to decipher.
Much like the 2004 film, the ending of Incredibles 2 virtually begs for a sequel. The Academy Award-winning original concluded with a cliffhanger, as the Underminer surfaced to attack Metroville, which is where Incredibles 2 picks up. The Parr family eventually overcomes the threats, which include Screenslaver's convoluted plan, leading to supers being loved by the public once more, thus providing Bird an angle he's yet to fully explore: a new age of heroes.
The sequel also introduces a new generation of crime-fighters, laying the foundation for legacy heroes and a potential time-jump from the 1960s setting (let's be real, two movies have thoroughly covered this era), and into a period where the older generation, like Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, can mentor an entire squad of youngsters. That would also allow a new dynamic with Violet, Dash and the enigmatic Jack-Jack all grown up. With the family failing to nab the Underminer, a sequel pretty much writes itself, as he's the only villain to defeat them.
"There's a weird assumption now that right after you do a movie that is a success, that the next thing you should do is a sequel to that movie," Bird said regarding the gap between Incredibles films. "I don't have a problem with sequels; some of my favorite movies are sequels. But people are almost slightly indignant that I haven't made [another Incredibles film] until now — and that part I don't understand. Sequels are fine but I think they're in danger of taking up too much of the cultural bandwidth of movies."
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Bird may have no interest in making sequels to Ratatouille or The Iron Giant, but as successful as those fan favorites were, they're no Incredibles. It would be nice for Bird to see all the Incredibles movies through, but let's be real: Disney and Pixar can use another director if they choose -- albeit with Bird's blessings, we're sure -- to add to the franchise because, ultimately, studio business is, well, a business.
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What we can see Bird doing, however, is taking his time, only maybe not quite as long as 14 years. That's because the current domination of superhero movies is unlikely to dilute the demand for Incredibles. "When we made The Incredibles, there were only two active superhero franchises: X-Men and Spider-Man," Bird has said. "Otherwise it was a pretty clear field and pretty green and watered and not too tromped on. Right now it's a dried-up soccer field that's got giant gopher holes in it, you know? So it's a different thing to coax life out of."
He may sound reluctant, but he's never ruled out a next chapter. It just feels as if he'll be more meticulous about when it drops. His Incredibles franchise is vastly different from the swath of comic book movies, after all, as it's a detailed, intimate portrait and strong character study using a small cast. More so, it's a family we're invested in and, honestly, what we've long wished the Fantastic Four could be. Few superhero ensembles end up being a true family like the Incredibles; it's a moving, emotive franchise filled with sentiment, and as endearing as it is, it still provides us with rollicking action adventures -- the best of both worlds.
There aren't too many family-friendly tentpoles like this out there, so this alone means there's more profit to be made. It's a win-win for the studio and also, allows Bird to tell unique stories that aren't steeped in violence and cataclysmic apocalypse scenarios. He gets to keep his crime small-scale and impart social justice messages we can all relate to. Most importantly, he gets to craft a relatable story for us of a dysfunctional family -- an overachieving dad, a feminist mom, and kids who are coming of age and trying to find their place in the world -- which ends up being more than a league.
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Bird's animated universe will always need saving, but the advantage he has is that his stories will always be more human than those of his contemporaries. Incredibles 2 is testament to that, and in terms of plot scope, box office bank and what fans want, it'd be senseless to not continue to follow the Parr family.
Written and directed by Brad Bird, Incredibles 2 stars Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Sophia Bush, Bob Odenkirk, Catherine Keener, Jonathan Banks, Sarah Vowell, Isabella Rossellini and Brad Bird.