Forgotten Island has barely arrived in cinemas, and people are already asking the obvious question:
Will there be a Forgotten Island 2?
It’s easy to understand why.
DreamWorks Animation didn’t just create a single adventure for Jo and Raissa. It created an entire fantasy world called Nakali filled with creatures inspired by Philippine mythology—and Philippine folklore is enormous.
We’ve already seen characters inspired by the manananggal, kapre, tiyanak, duwende and other familiar creatures.
But anyone who grew up hearing Filipino folklore knows that there are plenty more stories DreamWorks could explore.
Add Liza Soberano, H.E.R., Lea Salonga, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon and the rest of the film’s impressive cast, and Forgotten Island certainly feels like a movie with franchise potential.
But before we start imagining Forgotten Island 2, there’s one important thing to clarify.
As of September 23, 2026, DreamWorks Animation has not officially announced a sequel to Forgotten Island.
So, no—Forgotten Island 2 is not confirmed yet.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean the adventure is over.
Here’s what we know so far, what could determine whether DreamWorks makes a sequel, and where Jo and Raissa’s story could potentially go next.
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Is Forgotten Island 2 Confirmed?
No.
As of September 23, 2026, there is no official announcement from DreamWorks Animation or Universal Pictures confirming Forgotten Island 2.
DreamWorks’ current official page continues to promote Forgotten Island as its new theatrical release, with the movie scheduled to open in the United States on September 25. There is currently no Forgotten Island sequel listed alongside it.
Recent interviews with directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado have also focused on how they created the original movie, its Filipino influences and the friendship between Jo and Raissa rather than announcing plans for a second film.
That means any posts claiming that Forgotten Island 2 already has a release date, trailer or confirmed cast should be treated cautiously unless DreamWorks or Universal officially announces it.
Right now, there simply isn’t a confirmed sequel.
Why Is Everyone Already Talking About a Forgotten Island Sequel?
Because Forgotten Island feels like the kind of world that could easily support another movie.
The first film centers on Jo and Raissa, lifelong best friends who discover a portal leading to Nakali, a mysterious island populated by creatures they grew up hearing about from their Filipino families.
Their adventure revolves around friendship and memory, with the pair discovering that escaping the island could cost them the memories they’ve built together.
But Nakali itself is much bigger than those two characters.
It’s an entire mythological ecosystem.
That’s where the sequel possibilities become interesting.
DreamWorks could continue following Jo and Raissa.
It could return to Nakali.
It could explore creatures that didn’t receive much attention in the first movie.
Or it could introduce completely different Philippine myths and legends.
None of those ideas have been announced.
But the world DreamWorks created clearly leaves plenty of creative territory available if the studio decides to continue.
Forgotten Island Has Only Just Been Released
This is probably the biggest reason fans shouldn’t expect a sequel announcement immediately.
Forgotten Island officially opens in Philippine cinemas on September 23, 2026.
The Philippines actually gets the movie two days before its September 25 U.S. release.
So at the moment, DreamWorks doesn’t even have a complete picture of how the movie will perform theatrically.
The studio will likely be watching several things before making any major decision about the future of Forgotten Island.
Theatrical performance will obviously matter.
But so will audience response, international performance, digital and home-entertainment demand, streaming interest, merchandise potential and whether viewers remain interested in the characters after the movie leaves cinemas.
Animation franchises are expensive and take years to produce.
DreamWorks doesn’t need to decide the future of Forgotten Island during opening week.
Box Office Could Play a Big Role
One of the biggest questions surrounding Forgotten Island 2 will be how the first film performs commercially.
Because the movie is only beginning its worldwide theatrical rollout, there aren’t meaningful final box-office numbers yet.
Reuters reported ahead of the U.S. opening that industry analyst Daniel Loria projected an opening weekend of roughly $20 million for the movie. That’s a projection rather than an actual result, and we’ll only know how Forgotten Island performs after audiences have had the opportunity to see it.
And opening weekend isn’t everything.
Some animated films continue earning for weeks because of families, positive word of mouth and international audiences.
The Philippines could be especially interesting to watch.
DreamWorks has rarely released a major theatrical animated feature so deeply connected to Filipino culture.
Forgotten Island opened nationwide in Philippine cinemas on September 23 following sneak screenings on September 19 and 20.
Strong interest from Filipino audiences wouldn’t automatically guarantee a sequel, of course.
But it would certainly demonstrate that there’s an audience interested in seeing this world continue.
The Early Critical Response Is Encouraging
One thing Forgotten Island already has going for it is positive early critical attention.
Reviews began appearing before its wider U.S. theatrical release, with critics frequently highlighting the film’s animation, emotional story and use of Filipino culture.
The San Francisco Chronicle, for example, praised the movie’s Filipino representation and its exploration of friendship, while Deadline highlighted its energetic animation and performances.
Early reviews don’t tell us whether DreamWorks will order another movie.
But strong reviews can help build word of mouth, particularly for an original animated film that isn’t already connected to an established franchise.
Forgotten Island isn’t Shrek 5 or another Kung Fu Panda movie.
DreamWorks is asking audiences to fall in love with an entirely new group of characters.
That’s always a bigger challenge.
Could Forgotten Island Become a DreamWorks Franchise?
It certainly has the ingredients.
Again, that doesn’t mean DreamWorks has decided to turn it into a franchise.
But consider what the filmmakers built.
You have Jo and Raissa.
You have Nakali.
You have an entire population of supernatural creatures.
You have Philippine mythology.
You have music.
You have family history.
You have the concept of memories playing a central role in the fantasy world.
And most importantly, you have Philippine folklore—which gives the filmmakers an enormous amount of material to explore.
That makes Forgotten Island different from a story where the entire concept depends on one very specific conflict.
Even if Jo and Raissa complete their original emotional journey, Nakali doesn’t suddenly stop existing as a fictional world.
There’s still a lot that could potentially be discovered there.
Philippine Mythology Gives Forgotten Island 2 Plenty of Possibilities
This might be the strongest creative argument for another movie.
Philippine folklore is huge.
Different regions of the Philippines have their own supernatural beings, legends and variations of familiar creatures.
Forgotten Island already introduces audiences to several creatures inspired by Filipino folklore.
Lea Salonga voices Manang, the Dreaded Manananggal.
Jo Koy voices Datu, connected to the kapre.
Manny Jacinto voices Bungi, inspired by the tiyanak.
Ronny Chieng voices King Truffle Wuffle, associated with the duwende.
Jenny Slate voices Batiba, inspired by the batibat.
And that’s only a small portion of Philippine mythology.
A sequel could potentially explore creatures such as the tikbalang, diwata, bakunawa, siyokoy or entirely different regional legends.
To be clear: those characters have not been announced for Forgotten Island 2.
They’re simply examples of how much unused mythology exists if DreamWorks wants to expand Nakali.
Imagine the possibilities.
An underwater kingdom based around Philippine sea folklore.
A mountain region protected by diwata.
A giant bakunawa-inspired creature.
A mysterious tikbalang leading travelers in circles.
DreamWorks could theoretically build several completely different environments without leaving the cultural foundation established in the first movie.
Could Forgotten Island 2 Explore Other Parts of the Philippines?
This would also be an interesting direction.
The original Forgotten Island draws heavily from Filipino culture and is set partly in the Philippines before Jo and Raissa enter Nakali.
Director Januel Mercado has spoken extensively about bringing personal Filipino influences into the movie.
He and co-director Joel Crawford describe the film as a friendship story set against Filipino mythology, with Mercado drawing inspiration from important women in his own life and Filipino cultural experiences.
A sequel wouldn’t necessarily have to repeat the same environments.
Philippine culture changes enormously depending on which part of the country you’re exploring.
Luzon.
Visayas.
Mindanao.
Urban Manila.
Mountain communities.
Coastal communities.
Different languages.
Different folklore.
Different food.
Different musical traditions.
There’s enough cultural and mythological material that a second movie could feel very different while still belonging to the same world.
Again, that’s only a possibility—not something DreamWorks has announced.
Would Liza Soberano Return as Raissa?
If Forgotten Island 2 continues the story of Jo and Raissa, Liza Soberano would obviously be one of the most important potential returning cast members.
She voices Raissa, one of the two central protagonists.
Raissa’s transition into the next phase of her life is fundamental to the first movie’s emotional story.
Liza’s casting is particularly meaningful because the actress has talked about recognizing similarities between Raissa’s situation and her own experience leaving the Philippines while pursuing opportunities in Hollywood.
A sequel could theoretically explore what happens after that major transition.
Would Raissa still be living abroad?
How would her friendship with Jo change?
Would they return to Nakali?
Could they even return?
Those are questions a future movie could answer.
But at this point, Liza Soberano has not been officially announced for Forgotten Island 2 because the sequel itself hasn’t been confirmed.
Would H.E.R. Return as Jo?
The same applies to H.E.R.
She voices Jo, Raissa’s lifelong best friend and the other half of the movie’s central relationship.
DreamWorks describes the friendship between Jo and Raissa as the emotional heart of Forgotten Island.
The filmmakers themselves have emphasized that the movie is fundamentally about connection and two people trying not to drift apart.
If a sequel continued their story, bringing both H.E.R. and Liza back would make obvious narrative sense.
But there are currently no casting announcements for a second movie.
What About Lea Salonga?
Lea Salonga is one of the biggest scene-stealers connected to Forgotten Island.
She voices Manang, the Dreaded Manananggal.
Her role is especially memorable because the film takes one of the most famous monsters in Philippine folklore and gives the character a huge personality—and, naturally, plenty of musical presence.
Whether Manang could return would depend entirely on what story DreamWorks wanted to tell next.
And discussing exactly how she could return risks getting into spoiler territory for people who haven’t seen Forgotten Island yet.
So I’ll leave it there.
The important point is that Lea Salonga has not been confirmed for any sequel.
Other Cast Members Who Could Potentially Return
The first Forgotten Island has an unusually stacked ensemble.
Alongside H.E.R. and Liza Soberano, the voice cast includes:
Dave Franco as Raww
Lea Salonga as Manang
Manny Jacinto as Bungi
Dolly de Leon as Lola Fatima
Jo Koy as Datu
Jenny Slate as Batiba
Ronny Chieng as King Truffle Wuffle
There are also supporting appearances from other Filipino and Filipino-American performers.
A sequel could bring some of those characters back.
Or DreamWorks could expand the mythology and introduce an almost entirely new group.
At this stage, both possibilities are purely speculative.
Would Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado Return?
No director has been announced for Forgotten Island 2.
But if DreamWorks decides to continue the story, Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado would obviously be closely associated with the world.
The two wrote and directed Forgotten Island together after previously collaborating on Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
Their real-life friendship partly informed the emotional foundation of Jo and Raissa’s relationship.
Crawford and Mercado first met more than 15 years ago while working as storyboard artists on Kung Fu Panda 2, and they have continued collaborating since then.
Mercado’s Filipino heritage is also deeply connected to the cultural identity of Forgotten Island.
So while there’s no confirmation they would return for a sequel, their involvement would be one of the biggest pieces of news to watch if DreamWorks eventually announces another movie.
Is There a Forgotten Island 2 Release Date?
No.
There is currently no Forgotten Island 2 release date.
There isn’t even an officially announced movie yet.
That means any specific release date you see online right now should be considered speculation unless it comes directly from DreamWorks Animation, Universal Pictures or a reliable entertainment trade publication reporting an official announcement.
Could it eventually arrive in 2029 or later?
Potentially.
Animated movies can take several years to develop and produce, so even if DreamWorks decided relatively quickly to continue Forgotten Island, audiences shouldn’t assume another movie would arrive the following year.
But putting an exact year on Forgotten Island 2 at this point would just be guessing.
Is There a Forgotten Island 2 Trailer?
No.
There is no official Forgotten Island 2 trailer.
There is also no teaser, poster or official footage because DreamWorks hasn’t announced the sequel.
Be especially careful with YouTube videos using titles like:
“Forgotten Island 2 Official Trailer”
“Forgotten Island 2 First Look”
“Forgotten Island 2 Teaser 2027”
Unless those videos come from DreamWorks Animation, Universal Pictures or another verified official channel, they’re likely fan-made trailers, concept videos or compilations of footage from the first movie.
What Could Forgotten Island 2 Be About?
Now we can have a little fun.
There are several directions that would make sense creatively.
One possibility would be another Jo and Raissa adventure.
Their friendship could be tested by a different stage of life rather than simply repeating the conflict from the first movie.
Friendships change after graduation.
People move away.
They meet new friends.
Careers begin.
Relationships happen.
Schedules become complicated.
Life gets busy.
That could create an entirely new emotional story while preserving the central idea that made Forgotten Island work in the first place.
Nakali could once again turn that emotional conflict into a literal fantasy problem.
Another possibility would be exploring Nakali itself.
Where did the island come from?
Are there other parts of it we haven’t seen?
Are there other portals?
Are there other people who have visited?
Are all Philippine mythical creatures connected to Nakali?
DreamWorks could potentially make the mythology itself the mystery.
Forgotten Island Could Even Support a Spin-Off
There’s another possibility people shouldn’t overlook.
DreamWorks wouldn’t necessarily need to make Forgotten Island 2.
It could expand the universe another way.
A streaming series set on Nakali could explore individual creatures and legends.
A short film could focus on one supporting character.
A special could introduce another Philippine myth.
DreamWorks has expanded several of its properties beyond theatrical movies over the years.
Again, no Forgotten Island television series or spin-off has been announced.
But the structure of Nakali certainly makes that kind of storytelling possible.
You could practically build individual episodes around different Filipino supernatural beings.
The Biggest Question: Will Audiences Want More?
Ultimately, that’s what matters.
DreamWorks can create a huge world.
Critics can praise it.
Filipino audiences can celebrate the representation.
But studios still need to know that enough people want to return.
That’s why the next few weeks will be so important for Forgotten Island.
Box-office numbers will come in.
Audience scores will develop.
Social media conversation will grow—or fade.
Songs from the soundtrack may gain traction.
Characters may become fan favorites.
And we’ll start getting a better idea of whether Forgotten Island is being treated as one great standalone movie or the beginning of something much bigger.
Considering the movie doesn’t open in the United States until September 25, it’s simply too early to know.
Forgotten Island 2: What We Know So Far
Here’s where everything stands as of September 23, 2026:
Forgotten Island 2 has not been officially announced.
There is no confirmed sequel release date.
There is no Forgotten Island 2 trailer.
No cast members have officially signed on for a second movie.
DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures are currently focused on the theatrical release of the first film.
Forgotten Island opens nationwide in the Philippines on September 23 and in the United States on September 25.
Industry projections and early reviews are beginning to emerge, but meaningful worldwide box-office results are not available yet because the theatrical rollout is only beginning.
So for now, Forgotten Island 2 remains a possibility rather than a confirmed project.
What Should Fans Watch for Next?
If DreamWorks does begin moving toward a sequel, there are a few signs that would matter.
The biggest one would obviously be an announcement directly from DreamWorks or Universal.
After that, watch for comments from Joel Crawford or Januel Mercado about developing another story.
Updates from Liza Soberano or H.E.R. could also become significant.
Then there are the less obvious indicators.
Strong worldwide box-office numbers.
Good audience retention after opening weekend.
High streaming performance once the movie eventually reaches home viewing.
Strong soundtrack interest.
Merchandising.
And continued social media conversation around Nakali and its characters.
None individually confirms a sequel.
But together they can help demonstrate whether Forgotten Island has the kind of audience that can support a larger franchise.
Final Thoughts
So, will there be a Forgotten Island 2?
Right now, nobody outside DreamWorks can answer that definitively.
There is no officially announced sequel as of September 23, 2026.
And because the movie has only just opened in the Philippines and hasn’t even reached its regular U.S. theatrical release yet, that shouldn’t be surprising.
But creatively?
There’s definitely room for more.
Nakali feels bigger than one movie.
Philippine mythology is certainly bigger than one movie.
And Jo and Raissa’s friendship could continue evolving long after their first adventure ends.
DreamWorks has built a world where manananggal, kapre, tiyanak, duwende and other creatures aren’t merely background references. They’re characters.
That opens the door to a huge number of stories.
Maybe Forgotten Island remains a standalone movie.
Maybe Jo and Raissa return.
Maybe DreamWorks explores a completely different corner of Nakali.
For now, we’ll have to see how audiences respond to the first adventure.
But if Forgotten Island connects with viewers the way DreamWorks hopes it will, there are certainly plenty of Filipino stories still waiting beyond that portal.
Tayo na?
