Disney has just revealed new casting information for Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 along with some new footage at D23. Disney’s in-house animation studio has continued to grow over the last several years, giving the studio a second wave of animation projects. Wreck-It Ralph was one of their big hits starring John C. Reilly as Ralph and Sarah Silverman as Vanellope. However, it has been five years since the first movie hit theaters, and we’re just now starting to get some info on the sequel.
Thanks to D23, we’ve already seen the first bit of footage surface online showing the two lead characters traveling into the internet. Once they arrive, they’ll encounter a brand new world and characters. Disney just dedicated a chunk of time to the upcoming sequel during their animation panel at D23, confirming new cast members and showing off a clip.
Related: Wreck-It Ralph 2 Gets A New Release Date
The big casting announcement, courtesy of Seth Kelley, made for Wreck-It Ralph 2 is the addition of Taraji P. Henson. She will be playing a spam character named Yesss who is an expert on the internet and its inner workings. Announcing the addition of Henson was not all Disney revealed, as they also showed an entire clip from the film.
Seeing rough footage. Taraji’s character is an expert on the internet. Ralph wants to know “How exactly to I go virus?”— Seth Kelley (@SethMKelley) July 14, 2017
We’re watching a WRECK-IT RALPH 2 scene where the characters go to the site https://t.co/EQ3U49ZHRH. The ultimate in brand synergy #D23Expo— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) July 14, 2017
In this WRECK IT RALPH 2 scene, Vanellope gives a makeover to Ariel, Cinderella, Moana, Snow White, and the other princesses #D23Expo— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) July 14, 2017
All the Disney princesses are there…
Taraji’s character: “Those perfect models of femininity are the princesses” #D23Expo— Seth Kelley (@SethMKelley) July 14, 2017
No one can understand Merida’s thick accent. “She’s from the *other* studio,” explains another catty princess. #D23Expo— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) July 14, 2017
All the original actresses who played Disney princesses return to voice a self-referential Disney sequence in WRECK IT RALPH 2 #D23Expo— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) July 14, 2017
Henson joins the Disney family fresh off a performance in last year’s Best Picture Oscar nominee Hidden Figures. That role coupled with her continued success on Empire has continued to elevate her star power in the industry. In fact, it could be her role as Cookie from Empire that makes her a perfect fit to play a pop up spam character. While there was no look at her character released online, she is described as having blue hair, so she will instantly be able to stand out among whatever other characters the crew encounter on the internet.
The scene described is not expected to surface online, but already paints a great picture at what type of fun the Wreck-It Ralph series will have with the internet. Disney’s ability and willingness to go meta with their humor and references this early on is a great sign of things to come. The various references to video games in the first movie were clever, but the ability to now include any Disney property from Star Wars to the MCU should provide plenty of opportunities for jokes. Considering this is only the first clip they’ve shown from the film, they surely have many more great scenes like this planned.
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Key Release Dates
Wreck-It Ralph 2
Release Date:2018-11-21
