Twelve years afterBravewas released, Kelly Macdonald is considering the reality of a sequel or a live-action remake. Macdonald originally starred as the voice actor for Princess Merida, a Scottish Princess attempting to avoid her betrothal. WhileBrave 2was never confirmed, the original was a critical and financial success, securing a 79% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 75% audience-led Popcornmeter score. Macdonald also starred inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2(2011),No Country for Old Men(2007), andOperation Mincemeat(2021).
In an exclusive interview withScreen Rantabout her new movie,The Radleys, the star also discussed her history withBrave. While she still looks back on the movie fondly, she admits thatshe has not thought about a sequelat all. She also has good reasons to avoid appearing in any live-action remakes. Check out her full quote below:
Oh,I wouldn’t get anywhere near a live-action remake, I’m far too old. But yeah, it was an amazing thing to be part of, and I’m one of a very short list of Disney Princesses, and that’s kind of cool. If my younger self had heard about that, I dunno what she’d have thought. But yeah, I dunno about sequels or anything, that hadn’t occurred to me. This one, actually, The Radleys, it struck me when it watched it that it would be an interesting sequel to watch. I think there’s something there, but I don’t know if anybody’s going to, we’ll see how it goes. You know what, I’m just saying it because I just want to get some teeth. I didn’t get teeth this time around.
What Macdonald’s Brave Comments Mean
ABraveSequel Is Fairly Unlikely
It is only natural that Macdonald would distance herself from anypotential Disney live-action adaptations. WhileMerida is depicted as a 16-year-old girl, Macdonald is currently 48 years old. Therefore, a younger actor would be a betterfit for the role, and the new casting could help to introduce a new star to Hollywood. On the other hand, Macdonald could still have a live-action role, such as Merida’s mother. It’s not uncommon, as past actors who voiced Disney princesses have made some cameo or feature in a revamped live-action adaptation, such asMulan’s Ming Na-Wen in the 2019 film.
Pixar’s upcoming movies have some sequels scattered in, but all are follow-ups to franchises with clear directions.
However, the fact that Macdonald has not heard of any sequel also means that it is an unlikely prospect.Pixar has never indicated any interest in a follow-up movie, and it is especially unlikely afterLucaandCocotackled the same narrative elements.Braveended with Merida finding satisfaction in her family life, having earned her mother’s respect. There is no easy way to continue a story that concludes with such finality.Pixar’s upcoming movieshave some sequels scattered in, but all are follow-ups to franchises with clear direction, andBrave 2would be a break from that tradition.
Our Take On Brave 2’s Potential
There Would Be Limited Financial Opportunities
Bravesaw success at the box office during its initial run, having earned $539 million on a budget of $185 million. It even earned the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA Award. As an original property, that was an impressive total that proved that Pixar was thriving. The company has seen continued success in recent years with the $1.69 billionInside Out 2proving that sequels are a viable path forward for the franchise and the studio.
All 5 Pixar Movies That Made $1 Billion At The Box Office
Pixar’s five highest-grossing movies owe their financial success to strong storytelling, marketable casts, and hype surrounding them being sequels.
The 12 years since its release, however, have left Merida’s story with little room for further exploration.Inside Outleft a clear path forward, as Riley’s growth was a clear direction. By contrast, Merida’s story is done. Pixar has instead elected to repeatBrave’s themes through other movies, which has proven effective withCoco. If there ever is a sequel, it will need to change the franchise completely, which Pixar has shied away from. Pixar’s lack of interest in live-action remakes makes any follow-ups unlikely.
Brave
Cast
Pixar’s Brave follows Princess Merida of DunBroch (Kelly MacDonald), the daughter of a clan chief in medieval Scotland. When Meridia is told she must marry the suitor of her parents' choosing, she refuses, defying an age-old tradition and causing chaos in the kingdom. This starts a chain of events that causes Merida’s mother, Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson), to fall victim to a magical curse, the princess sets off into the wild to rescue her.
