A return trip to Casita on the big screen isn’t in the cards for now. One of the producers behind Encanto (2021) says Walt Disney Animation Studios has not discussed making a sequel, though she is quick to add that she’d be thrilled if the studio ever changed its mind.
What the Encanto Producer Said
Yvett Merino, a Creative Executive at Walt Disney Animation Studios, discussed the topic in an interview with The Direct about Hexed (2026), the studio’s upcoming original film. Asked about the possibility of another Encanto movie, she confirmed that no one has talked about greenlighting one.
That answer stands even after the box-office strength of Zootopia 2 (2025) and Moana 2 (2024). Encanto‘s own path was unusual. It earned modest numbers in theaters in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, then became a word-of-mouth phenomenon once it landed on Disney+.
Merino stopped short of ruling anything out.
“No, but I’m always here for it,” she said. “Encanto is the first film that I produced, and it really holds a very special place in my heart, because it’s about a Latino family in the forefront. So anything that has to do with the world of Encanto, I’m in for.”
A Pattern of Hope, Not Plans
Merino has dropped similar hints before. In a 2023 interview with The Direct, she said Disney was still looking at “different ways that [they] can keep the world alive” for fans everywhere. Those comments didn’t point to a film, and her latest remarks suggest that remains the case.
Still, film cast members appear interested in returning to the world of Encanto. John Leguizamo, who voices Bruno, said in 2025 that he’d “love to see a sequel.”
Where the Madrigals Will Show Up Instead
Even without a second film, the magical Madrigal family is getting a major spotlight at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Mirabel and her relatives will anchor part of Pueblo Esperanza, a Tropical Americas land now under development at Walt Disney World Resort.
The area will include El Carrusel de los Animalitos, a wood-carved carousel featuring animals from various Disney films, and Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, a reimagining of the DINOSAUR attraction. It will also feature Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto, inspired by Casita, the Madrigals’ enchanted home. The ride takes place on the day Antonio receives his gift of speaking to animals and stars several original cast members, including Stephanie Beatriz (Mirabel), Jessica Darrow (Luisa), Dianne Guerrero (Isabela), and Adassa (Dolores).
Some of our familia will be joining in on the magia ✨Jess Darrow, Diane Guerrero and Stephanie Beatriz will be voicing their Encanto characters for Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto coming to Animal Kingdom 🌳 #D23 #WaltDisneyWorld
Some of our familia will be joining in on the magia ✨Jess Darrow, Diane Guerrero and Stephanie Beatriz will be voicing their Encanto characters for Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto coming to Animal Kingdom 🌳 #D23 #WaltDisneyWorld pic.twitter.com/S30YCyPSns
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) August 16, 2026
Merino says she can’t wait to see it open.
“What I’m really excited for now is the Casita that’s opening up in Florida in the parks,” she said. “They’re building a whole Casita and an attraction there. I’m excited for that. But anything Encanto, I’m there for.”
Pueblo Esperanza is expected to debut at Walt Disney World Resort sometime in 2027.
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