‘The Secret Life of Pets 2’ Sets a 2018 Release Date
Just in case you didn’t learn enough about the secret life of pets this summer, you’ll get a second chance in 2018. Illumination and Universal Pictures are officially developing a sequel to The Secret Life of Pets, the cute animated film that gave animals the Toy Story treatment — and gave you something enjoyable to watch during this lackluster movie season.
Per Variety, Universal and Illumination are planning The Secret Life of Pets 2 for July 13, 2018. The first film hit theaters last month, opening with $104.3 million and setting a box office record for the best debut weekend for an original film (animated or live-action) in the U.S. Animated films are usually fairly successful in the summer months (school’s out, etc.), but Finding Dory and The Secret Life of Pets both received an additional boost at the box office thanks to this season’s otherwise underwhelming live-action offerings.
Director Chris Renaud and screenwriter Brian Lynch are returning for the sequel, though Universal has yet to reveal any new or returning cast members. The Secret Life of Pets featured the voices of Kevin Hart, Louis C.K., Ellie Kemper, Eric Stonestreet, Steve Coogan, Bobby Moynihan, Jenny Slate, Albert Brooks, Lake Bell, Dana Carvey and Hannibal Buress.
The first film centers on a terrier named Max who has his life disrupted when his owner brings home a stray dog named Duke. Together, the two dogs must overcome their differences and team up with other neighborhood pets to stop a maniacal white bunny named Snowball.