'Sky High 2': Director Reveals a Sequel With Original Cast Was Cancelled

Director Mike Mitchell has finally opened up about the much-anticipated, yet ultimately cancelled, 'Sky High' sequel. The original film, released in 2005, captured the imaginations of many with its unique take on a high school for superheroes. Despite its moderate success—grossing $86.4 million against a $35 million budget—plans for a sequel have long been in limbo. Disney did announce a sequel in 2016, but since then, there has been little progress, and unfortunately, 'Sky High 2' never came to fruition.

In a recent interview with ComicBook.com, while promoting 'Kung Fu Panda 4,' Mitchell shared some details about what the sequel might have entailed. He revealed that the original students would have returned, this time as teachers at a university for superheroes.

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The potential cast included familiar faces like Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Kurt Russell. Here's what Mitchell had to say:

"All the original kids would be back again, including Cousin Greg [Nicholas Braun]. That was one of his first films. Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Royal Pain, Kurt Russell would have to be back as well. We figured all the kids are now grown up and they're all university teachers at a place called Save U. You just take all that fun and we bring it from the high school into the college years. It would be such a blast."

Why Was 'Sky High 2' Never Made?

One of the main hurdles in developing 'Sky High 2' was the budget. The original cast members have since become major Hollywood figures, which would have driven up the costs significantly. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, known for her roles in horror films like '10 Cloverfield Lane' and 'Final Destination 3,' along with Kurt Russell and Nicholas Braun, would have commanded substantial salaries.

Another factor was timing. By the time the sequel was announced in 2016, eleven years had passed since the original film. The target audience had largely moved on, and nostalgia alone wasn't enough to guarantee success. Meanwhile, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has become Disney’s primary focus for superhero stories. Investing in an MCU-based project, such as the upcoming 'X-Men' reboot, offers a higher return on investment.

While there’s always a chance that a surge in interest in Disney+ could revive talks of a 'Sky High' sequel, for now, Disney seems more inclined to invest in its more popular properties. Fans of school-based superhero tales might have to turn to the existing Fox 'X-Men' films or Prime Video's 'Gen V,' although the latter isn’t as family-friendly as 'Sky High.'