Wreck-It Ralph combines Pixar-esque storytelling with modern and nostalgic video game influences - and even subtle jabs at less-admirable aspects of gaming culture - giving rise to a film that's managed to impress hardcore gamers, CGI-mation fans and even some of those 'snobby critics' who wouldn't be caught dead playing something like Call of Duty (much less, an old-school arcade title such as Pac-Man or Donkey Kong). So, why wouldn't Disney want to make a sequel?

Well, it turns out that studio "muckety-muckets" (as Ralph voice actor John C. Reilly calls them) and director Rich Moore have indeed begun to toss around ideas for Wreck-It Ralph 2.

Ralph opened here in the States over a month ago, but remains in the top 10 at the box office and could match its $165 million budget as soon as this weekend. However, it has yet to open in many of the more lucrative foreign markets, which accounts for why Reilly, Sarah Silverman (who voices Vanellope von Schweetz) and director Rich Moore are still out and about promoting the film.

Silverman and Reilly assured Moviehole that Wreck-It Ralph 2 is on the way, with the latter pointing to the first computer-animated toon's record opening weekend (it squeaked past Tangled, to become Disney Animation Studio's best premiere). Reilly also playfully knocked-on-wood with a crack about how "They wouldn’t make [all that] merchandise, if [Disney] didn’t have plans for other [Wreck-it Ralph] stories."

Moore added:

“At dinner last night we were already talking about [a 'Wreck-It Ralph' sequel]. So we’re talking ‘what could do they do? What kind of things could happen? Who could be in it?'”

Well, Moore already has plans to include one icon of the video game industry in the next movie: Mario.

Luigi and Mario with the de-evolution gun from Super Mario Bros.
No, not like this

Wreck-It Ralph 2 doesn't have an official go-ahead yet, but Moore is already planning to return at the helm (assuming the sequel happens). He joked about the Mario brothers being prima donnas at Disney's 2012 Comic-Con panel, but he informed Moviehole the real reason Mario didn't appear in the first film is because Moore "couldn't find anywhere for him to go" - not Nintendo refusing the rights.

To quote:

“We’ll really come up with something good for Mario to do [in the next film]“, says Moore. “To be able to present him in the sequel, would be great."

That's encouraging, seeing how most of the video game icon cameos in Wreck-It Ralph (Sonic the Hedgehog, Bowser, Zangief, etc.) made for entertaining Easter Eggs, but were otherwise superfluous to the plot. Mario could feasibly play a more essential role in the sequel, similar to how Barbie was incorporated into the Toy Story world in Toy Story 2 (before she became even more important in Toy Story 3). Not to mention, obvious jokes about Mario having similar career experiences as Fix-It Felix Jr. (Jack McBrayer), but ending up with a very different sort of woman (see below)...

Jane Lynch as Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun in 'Wreck-It-Ralph'
Jane Lynch as Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun in 'Wreck-It-Ralph'

That's to say: there's very much room for Wreck-It Ralph 2 to improve on its predecessor - namely, by finding an organic way to continue the story, further explore its universe and expand upon the themes and concepts introduced in the first film (much like the Toy Story sequels did). Color us hopeful that happens.

Are you (wait for it...) game for Wreck-It Ralph 2? Let us know in the comments section below.

Wreck-It Ralph is currently playing in theaters (2D and 3D) around the U.S.

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Source: Moviehole