The COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to some of these delays; since March 2020, all genres of film and television production have been impacted. Additionally, Pixar appears to be fairly picky and deliberate about which of their films they consider deserving of a sequel to an original plot. For instance, sequels to “Ratatouille” and “Up” have never been made, yet “Cars” and “Toy Story” have grown into multi-film franchises over time. Yet each of the four movies has the hallmarks of a successful sequel: positive reviews (through Rotten Tomatoes), strong box office numbers (by The Numbers), and a satisfying conclusion that begs for a second feature. Similar to how “Coco” checks all of these conditions, it’s probable that Pixar doesn’t believe Miguel going back to the Land of the Dead will make for a successful sequel to the first movie.
Even if “Coco 2” started filming this year, it would be a while before audiences could see it because Pixar’s animated feature films can take several years to create and produce (via Harvard Business Review). Expect a sequel to “Coco” to be released over a number of years, if at all. You may currently watch “Coco” on Disney+.
Coco 2 has yet to be officially announced
Unfortunately, neither Disney nor Pixar have released an official statement confirming “Coco 2.” Likewise, there has been no indication from anyone connected to 2017’s “Coco,” including co-directors Adrian Molina and Lee Unkrich, that a follow-up to the animated film is in the works.