Even after 18 years, Ratatouille fans are still rooting for a second chapter as they are buzzing online with wild sequel pitches. On Pulp Kitchen, Em Wallbank went viral sharing her idea,
Give me a Ratatouille where it’s a cooking competition from rats all around the world. I want a German rat called Ratwurst, I want a Guy Fieri rat, I want a Gordon Ramsay rat. Stop giving us Toy Story films and give us Ratatouille 2.
The OG Ratatouille, which was released in 2007, followed a Parisian rat, Remy, who dreams of becoming a chef, teaming up with garbage boy Alfredo. Directed by Brad Bird, the movie was voiced by Patton Oswalt, Lou Romano, Ian Holm, Brian Dennehy, Peter Sohn, and others.
Why Ratatouille 2 Never Happened Despite Grossing $623M On Box Office?
Pixar’s 2007 classic Ratatouille not only won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, but it also grossed $623.7 million on a budget of $150 million (reported via Box Office Mojo). This comedy-drama further went on to become the second-highest-grossing animated film in 2007 after Shrek the Third, earning a glowing 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, backed by an 8.1/10 IMDb score. However, 18 years later, we still can’t see Ratatouille 2?
Well, director Brad Bird once shared the main reason why the second installment never happened. In a 2018 interview with io9, Bird said,
That story is told. No one apparently wants anything new anymore. I’m a little at odds with society on that. I would like to do some new things.
Though Bird returned for Incredibles 2, he, however, consistently rejected the idea of bringing back Remy and Linguini. Moreover, Pixar’s track record has shown us that the studio isn’t shy about sequels for franchises like Toy Story, Cars, and Finding Dory, especially when big-grossing returns are on the line. Unlike those, Ratatouille remains a standalone story. And clearly, Bird’s philosophy is that not every film needs to be stretched even when it’s financially tempting.
Peter Sohn in Ratatouille (Credits- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)
Still, after over a decade, fans are holding out hope. Honestly, Disney knows that nostalgia sells. Take, for instance, Inside Out 2, Mufasa: The Lion King, Moana 2, and the upcoming Zootopia 2, Toy Story 5, and Incredibles 3; all of the released ones have proved that the door is never completely closed when it comes to the studio. But for now, Ratatouille remains one of Pixar’s rare one-offs, which will always be remembered as a masterpiece of its own.
What Would Ratatouille 2 Have Been About?
Patton Oswalt and Peter Sohn in Ratatouille (Credits- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)
If Pixar had greenlit Ratatouille 2, the sequel would have probably expanded Remy’s journey from Paris into a bigger culinary stage. The OG film concluded with Remy finally being accepted as a chef. The next chapter could have perhaps taken his story ahead with him stepping into the global spotlight.
Even fans have shared their opinion on the narrative, imagining the story as a full-on rat cooking competition with contenders from around the world. Perhaps that setup would’ve been perfect to bring international cuisines to one platform.
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Of course, the comedy is a must, but beyond that, the sequel could’ve leaned into the tension between humans and rats in the food world. Though Linguini and Colette backed Remy, the larger Parisian culinary scene might not be so accepting. Then we can have flavors of pressure from fame, Colette and Linguini’s relationship struggle, and Remy’s family pulling him back to his roots. Honestly, the story practically writes itself; a signal is all we need.
MovieRelease DateBox OfficeIMDbRotten TomatoesMetacriticRatatouilleJune 29, 2007$623.7M8.1/1096%96/100
Overall, Ratatouille 2 could have blended heartfelt storytelling with larger-than-life kitchen showdowns. Even with Brad Bird’s verdict on the story being completed, we can still root for it.
What are your thoughts on the sequel to Ratatouille? Let us know in the comments below.
Ratatouille is currently streaming on Disney+.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
