Mitchells vs Machines 2 in Works at Sony Animation, Netflix
The Mitchells and the machines are readying for a rematch.
Sony Pictures Animation is making a sequel to its 2021 Oscar-nominated feature “The Mitchells vs. the Machines,” with Guillermo Martinez (head of story for the first “Mitchells” film) and JP Sans (co-director of “The Bad Guys 2”) signing on to direct, marking Martinez’s directorial debut. Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin (“The Great North”), known professionally as the Molyneux sisters, are writing the screenplay. Production is expected to begin in early 2026.
As with the original, Netflix will distribute the “Mitchells” sequel as part of a licensing agreement with Sony. The first film was initially slated to be released by Sony Pictures in 2020 after the title was changed to “Connected,” but following delays due to the COVID pandemic, Netflix picked up the film (under its original title) for reportedly more than $100 million. The studios are planning a more collaborative partnership on the second “Mitchells” movie. (Sony’s recent animated feature “KPop Demon Hunters” landed at Netflix under a separate output deal with the streamer; it’s now Netflix’s most-watched movie ever and the companies are in talks for a sequel.)
“The Mitchells vs. the Machines” follows the titular family as they drive their eldest daughter, Katie (Abbi Jacobson), across the country to film school in California. While en route, a rogue AI called PAL (Olivia Colman) commanders an army of robots to launch a worldwide rebellion against humanity. It’s up to the Mitchells — including Katie’s technophobic father, Rick (Danny McBride), overly sweet mother, Linda (Maya Rudolph) and hyperactive younger brother, Aaron (Mike Rianda) — to save the day. The film won wide praise for its hand-painted animation style, won eight Annie Awards, including for animated feature, and was nominated for best animated feature at the Oscars.
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are producing through their company Lord Miller, and Kurt Albrecht is producing for Sony Pictures Animation. Rianda, who co-wrote and directed the original, is an executive producer, along with Lord Miller’s Aditya Sood.
Martinez started out on the 2019 Laika production “Missing Link”; after serving as head of story on the first “Mitchells vs. Machines” film, he worked on 2023’s “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” and on “KPop Demon Hunters.”
Prior to co-directing 2025’s “The Bad Guys 2” with Pierre Perifel, Sans worked as an animator on several DreamWorks Animation films, including “Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken,” “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” and “Trolls World Tour.”
