‘Nimona’ Director Troy Quane To Helm DreamWorks’ ‘The Wild Robot’ Sequel, Heidi Jo Gilbert To Co-Direct

DreamWorks Animation is developing The Wild Robot Escapes, a sequel to the studio’s 2024 hit The Wild Robot, which was written and directed by Chris Sanders. The new film adapts the second book in Peter Brown’s trilogy and continues the story of Roz, the service robot who formed a family with island wildlife.

According to TheWrap, which broke the news, the sequel will be helmed by Nomina director Troy Quane, with Heidi Jo Gilbert, a longtime DreamWorks vet and head of story on the first film, co-directing. Sanders, who helmed the original film, is returning to write the sequel’s screenplay but will not direct it.

The story is based on Brown’s 2018 novel of the same name. In that book, Roz is relocated to a dairy farm where she is expected to function as a standard service robot. While trying to suppress the independence she developed on the island, she reconnects with animals on the farm and longs to return home. Word of her situation eventually reaches her adopted goose son, Brightbill, who sets out to rescue her and help her escape.

The first film followed Roz after she was shipwrecked on a remote island and gradually became part of an animal community, raising the orphaned gosling Brightbill as her own. The film earned strong critical reception and major industry awards recognition, including a hugely impressive three Oscar nominations, becoming one of the studio’s most acclaimed releases in recent years. Its sequel will certainly be welcomed warmly by audiences.

No release date has been announced for The Wild Robot Escapes, which remains in early development at DreamWorks.