Soaring high in the animated movie landscape, the “Rio” franchise captured hearts with its vibrant visuals, catchy tunes, and charming characters. With the anticipation for a third installment, fans are eager to know when they can expect Blu, Jewel, and their family to grace the big screen once again.
A Franchise Takes Flight
Released in 2011, “Rio” introduced us to Blu, a rare Spix’s macaw, and Jewel, the last female of their species. The film follows Blu’s journey from Minnesota to Rio de Janeiro, where he embarks on a mission to save his kind from extinction. With a star-studded voice cast, including Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, and Jamie Foxx, “Rio” took audiences on a musical adventure, earning a 72% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and grossing $484.6 million at the box office.
Following the success of the first film, “Rio 2” arrived in 2014, continuing the story of Blu and Jewel as they venture into the Amazon rainforest. Despite a slight dip in critical reception with a 48% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, “Rio 2” managed to gross $498.8 million worldwide, proving the franchise’s enduring popularity.
The Wait for Rio 3
As for “Rio 3,” the release date remains uncertain, but fans can anticipate its arrival by 2025 at the earliest. In a 2014 interview with Cinemblend, director Carlos Saldanha expressed his desire to continue the story:
“Of course, I have a lot of stories to tell, so we’re [starting to] prepare for it. Because we love these characters so much, and there are a lot of things in my head that maybe I couldn’t put in the movie. I wanted to take them to a different place.”
“It’s a jungle out there for Blu, Jewel, and their three kids after they’re hurtled from Rio de Janeiro to the wilds of the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in, he goes beak-to-beak with the vengeful Nigel, and meets the most fearsome adversary of all: his father-in-law,” reads the official synopsis for “Rio 2.”
While Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019 led to the shuttering of Blue Sky Studios, the studio behind the “Rio” films, reports surfaced in 2022 that “Rio 3” was in development, with Jim Hecht penning the script. However, due to the ongoing actors’ strike, the exact release date remains uncertain.
The Voices of Rio
The potential voice cast for “Rio 3” might include Jesse Eisenberg as Blu, Anne Hathaway as Jewel, Leslie Mann as Linda, Rodrigo Santoro as Tulio, Rachel Crow as Carla, Pierce Gagnon as Tiago, Amandla Stenberg as Bia, will.i.am as Pedro, Jamie Foxx as Nico, George Lopez as Rafael, Tracy Morgan as Luiz, Jemaine Clement as Nigel, and more.
“I never really let myself go there, because there are writers and a director and a whole film studio,” said Anne Hathaway, who voices Jewel in the “Rio” films. “I’m just happy to show up for the ride! I mean, I trust these guys. They know these characters inside and out, and they tell great stories. I just hope that I’m there!”
As the release date for “Rio 3” approaches, fans can expect another vibrant and musical adventure, filled with stunning visuals, catchy tunes, and beloved characters. ComingSoon will provide updates when the “Rio 3” release date is officially confirmed.
