Pixar has to know that they can never say "never" when it comes to a possible sequel. We're about to have a fourth Toy Story, a third Cars, and almost every other character -- from the Monsters to the Incredibles -- have a second movie in the can or on the way. So when our own Eric Eisenberg interviewed Finding Dory producer Lindsey Collins about Andrew Stanton's massively successful sequel, he probed about the possibility of a third chapter under the sea, and found out that information floated in Finding Dory might lead to a question that has to be answered. Are you ready for Finding Hank? Collins tells us:
[I] feel like all of the characters from the original film feel like they're tied up now. They're done. That's not to say that six years from now [Andrew Stanton]'s going to watch and think, 'You know, I'm kind of worried about Hank. Where is that tentacle? Where is it?' So I don't know. I hope it's always that way. I hope we always come at it from a place where 'There's just something bugging me, and I can't wait until I get this story out.'
Approaching a Finding Dory sequel from the perspective of a different character would fit the mold of Andrew Stanton's latest sequel. Though Nemo and Marlin were part of this new story, the point of view shifted to that of Ellen Degeneres' forgetful blue tang, Dory, and so you can see how -- years from now -- if Stanton wanted to return to this world, he could write a story filling in a lot of Hanks' background and make room for Dory and the rest of the Finding Dory crew.
When we last saw the Dory gang, they'd all returned to Nemo and Marlin's 'hood, where even Hank was fitting in. As Lindsey Collins notes, the main characters have reached a resolution. Hanks still has lingering issues, and they could intrigue Andrew Stanton down the line.
Collins also played the safe game of explaining that at Pixar, they really don't want to even approach the possibility of a sequel until they have an idea that can entertain them for an extended period of time. She told Eric Eisenberg:
I think, like everything, if there's a great story, we're all for telling it, but trying to force it... It's too hard when you have something great to begin with, much less when you don't. Meaning, if you don't have a great idea, it's almost impossible to work on something for four years. I don't know! Andrew, in a weird way, I think has learned his lesson to never say never -- he was so public about not feeling as though that was something he ever wanted to do. So he is certainly more hesitant to say no now.
And as you know, Pixar's open to sequels now, on a regular basis. Plus, Finding Dory is now Pixar's highest-grossing film domestically, proving that there's an audience for undersea adventures with this cast and crew. What do you think? Would you buy a ticket to Finding Hank in a few years? Let us know in the comments. And look for Finding Dory on DVD and Blu-ray on November 15.
