Sony greenlights Mitchells 2; Netflix to distribute

Sony Pictures Animation has greenlit a sequel to its 2021 animated film The Mitchells vs. the Machines, with production slated to begin in early 2026 and Netflix returning as the film's distributor under the studios' licensing agreement. Guillermo Martinez, who served as head of story on the original, will make his feature directorial debut and will be joined by JP Sans, co-director of The Bad Guys 2. Wendy and Lizzie Molyneux are writing the screenplay.

Martinez and Sans's appointments were announced as part of Sony's continued expansion of its animation slate. Martinez worked on the first Mitchells film and has credits on Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse and the animated feature KPop Demon Hunters. Sans previously worked as an animator on several DreamWorks projects and most recently co-directed The Bad Guys 2. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller will produce through their Lord Miller banner, with Kurt Albrecht producing for Sony Pictures Animation. Michael Rianda, who co-wrote and directed the original, is listed as an executive producer.

Details of the sequel's story have been kept under wraps. The first film followed the Mitchell family as they drove their daughter Katie to...