Mitchells and Machine are ready for a rematch.
Sony Pictures Animation is producing a sequel to the 2021 Academy Award-nominated feature “The Mitchells vs. the Machines,” with Guillermo Martinez (head of story on the first “The Mitchells”) and JP Sands (co-director of “Bad Guys 2”) signed on to direct, marking Martinez’s directorial debut. Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Rogelin (The Great North), known professionally as the Molyneux Sisters, are writing the screenplay. Production is expected to begin in early 2026.
Like the original, Netflix will distribute the “Mitchells” sequel as part of its licensing agreement with Sony. The studio is planning a more collaborative creative partnership for the second film. The first film was originally retitled Connected and was scheduled to be released by Sony Pictures in 2020, but Netflix reportedly sold the film for more than $100 million after delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Sony’s recent animated feature KPop Demon Hunters was distributed to Netflix under a separate production deal with the streamer. It is currently the most-watched film in Netflix history, 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 attend film school in California. Along the way, a rogue AI called PAL (Olivia Colman) commands an army of robots and begins a global rebellion against humanity. It’s up to the Mitchell family, including Katie’s technophobic father Rick (Danny McBride), overly kind mother Linda (Maya Rudolph), and hyperactive brother Aaron (Mike Rianda), to save the day. The film was widely praised for its hand-drawn animation style and won eight Annie Awards, including Best Animation, and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Animation.
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are producing through their company Lord Miller, with Kurt Albrecht producing for Sony Pictures Animation. Leanda, who co-wrote and directed the original, will executive produce alongside Lord Miller’s Aditya Sood.
Martinez started with his 2019 Laika production “Missing Link.” After serving as head of story on the first film, Mitchells vs. Machines, he worked on 2023’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and KPop Demon Hunters.
Before co-directing 2025’s Bad Guys 2 with Pierre Periffel, Sands worked as an animator on several DreamWorks Animation films, including Ruby Gilman: Teenage Kraken, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and Trolls World Tour.
