Summary
AfterPixar’sInside Outwas a huge success in 2015, it was inevitable that a sequel would be made, andInside Out 2will land in theaters on June 14th, 2024. WhileInside Outfollowed 11-year-old Riley (Kailtyn Diaz) as she moved to San Francisco,Kensington Tallman will voice a now 15-year-old Riley. Audiences will meet a few new emotions who help Riley figure out who she is so she can thrive during this tough time in her life.
While it’s clever and fitting forInside Out 2to focus on teenage emotions, there are a few actors who are missing from the cast. WhilePhyllis Smith didn’t return toInside Out 2to voice Sadness, two other cast members didn’t come back, either. The Pixar sequelhas to make up for the disappointing fact thatMindy Kaling and Bill Hader didn’t return to voice Disgust and Fear inInside Out 2.
Inside Out 2’s New Emotions
There arefour new emotions inInside Out 2. According toDeadline, they includeEmbarrassment, Ennui, Envy, and Anxiety. With the loss of the talented and hilarious actors who previously voiced Fear and Disgust, the new characters inInside Out 2need to be as funny, moving, and impactful.
Anxiety
Maya Hawke
The clever message ofInside Out, which is also shown throughRiley’s dad’s (Kyle MacLachlan) storyline as he battles Anger, is that it’s okay to feel emotions. The original Pixar movie wants children and adults alike to know that processing feelings and talking about them is healthier and more helpful than ignoring them or hoping that they will go away. IfInside Out 2will be a success for Pixar, then the new emotions have to continue this trajectory and be featured in strong, well-crafted storylines featuring Riley and her parents.
Who Else Is Voicing Characters In Inside Out 2?
The new emotions inInside Out 2need to balance silly jokes with meaningful moments the way that Fear and Disgust did inInside Out. Thanks to his talent for deadpan, unique humor, Hader portrayed Fear as an anxious character who felt relief when things actually went according to plan. One of the funniest quotes is when Fear says:
“All right! We did not die today, I call that an unqualified success.”
Similarly, Disgust said some of thefunniest quotes inInside Out, and Kaling delivered each line with crisp, memorable comedic timing. One of Disgust’s most important scenes is when she wants to help Riley look cool so she can fit in at school. Disgust says:
“When I’m through, Riley will look so good the other kids will look at their own outfits and barf.”
Kaling’s absence will be felt inInside Out 2since Disgust will be a more important emotion than ever before. Riley will need this emotion’s help to navigate high school, and Kaling’s portrayal just worked.
Bill Hader And Mindy Kaling Didn’t Return To Inside Out 2
WhileFear and Disgust will still be inInside Out 2, it’s a shame not to see what the original actors could have brought to the movie. Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling are versatile talents who impress in almost every project that they are part of.Hader was inspired to makeBarry,the dark HBO comedy that proved he can work in any genre, and Kaling honed her comedic skills on sitcoms likeThe OfficeandThe Mindy Project.
Bill Hader’s absence is also disappointing because the actor seemed to really embrace his role as Fear inInside Out. In an interview withThe Washington Post, he shared that he had been a fan of Pixar for a while before he was cast. He said:
“I got to hang out… and help out in the story room… And then they just said: ‘Why don’t you play one of these [characters]? We want you to play Fear.’"
Who Is Playing Fear And Disgust In Inside Out 2?
Tony Hale is voicing Fear andLiza Lapira is voicing Disgust inInside Out 2. Hale has an impressive TV comedy career as he played awkward Buster Bluth onArrested Developmentand Selena Meyer’s personal aide Gary Walsh onVeep. Lapira has an extensive TV resume as well, having starred inDollhouse,NCIS, Huff, andDon’t Trust The B—- in Apartment 23.
While someactors who seemed perfect to play Disgust inInside Out 2, there’s no one quite like Mindy Kaling, and it’s hard to imagine someone else in this role. Kaling brought her unparalleled comedic timing to the part, which was necessary since Disgust is such a common and relatable childhood emotion. Since teenagers feel grossed out so often, Disgust will need to be even more impactful inInside Out 2, and Fear will always need to be portrayed properly.
