Coco 2 Gets First Look at Teenage Miguel and a November 2029 Release Date
Pixar is returning to the Land of the Dead. Coco 2 has officially received its first major reveal at D23, with new concept art showing a teenage Miguel—and the return of Ernesto de la Cruz promises unfinished business.
After nearly a decade of waiting, Miguel’s story is finally continuing.
Pixar has unveiled the first look at Coco 2 during Disney’s D23 showcase, confirming that the long-awaited sequel will arrive in theaters in November 2029. The reveal also offered fans their first glimpse at a significantly older Miguel, now a teenager and still carrying his guitar.
But Miguel isn’t returning to the Land of the Dead simply for another musical adventure.
Ernesto de la Cruz is back—and this time, he wants revenge.
Miguel Is Growing Up
The first Coco followed Miguel Rivera as a 12-year-old boy who accidentally entered the Land of the Dead and discovered the truth about his family’s history.
Coco 2 will move the story forward by several years.
The first-look artwork presented at D23 shows Miguel as a teenager, accompanied by his loyal dog Dante. The change in age immediately gives the sequel a different starting point from its predecessor.
Miguel is no longer the little boy desperately trying to prove that music belongs in his family’s future.
He’s older, more experienced and presumably much more confident about his identity as a musician.
But growing up doesn’t mean his connection to the Land of the Dead has disappeared.
Ernesto de la Cruz Is Back
The biggest surprise from the D23 presentation may be the return of Ernesto de la Cruz, once again voiced by Benjamin Bratt.
Ernesto was exposed as a fraud in the original film after Miguel discovered that the legendary musician had stolen his great-great-grandfather Héctor’s songs and ultimately caused his death.
Now, according to the details revealed at D23, Ernesto is returning with revenge on his mind.
That immediately creates a fascinating problem for Miguel.
In the first film, Miguel helped expose Ernesto and destroy the false legacy surrounding him. From Ernesto’s perspective, Miguel is the person who brought his carefully constructed reputation crashing down.
Now the disgraced musician apparently wants payback.
A New Journey to the Land of the Dead
The sequel will once again take Miguel into the supernatural world that became the heart of the original movie.
The exact circumstances surrounding his return haven’t been fully revealed, but the basic setup already suggests that the story will combine the familiar world of the Rivera family with a much larger adventure.
And this time, Miguel won’t be returning as a child who doesn’t understand the rules of the Land of the Dead.
He knows the world.
He knows his family’s history.
And he knows exactly how dangerous Ernesto can be.
That could make Coco 2 fundamentally different from the first movie while preserving the emotional connection that made the original so beloved.
Dante Is Back Too
Fans also won’t have to say goodbye to one of Miguel’s most entertaining companions.
Dante appears alongside the teenage Miguel in Pixar’s first concept art for the sequel.
The goofy Xoloitzcuintli became an important part of Miguel’s journey in the first film, eventually revealing a much more significant connection to the spirit world.
His return suggests that the sequel isn’t abandoning the mythology established in Coco.
Instead, Pixar appears ready to build upon it.
The Original Creative Team Returns
Coco 2 isn’t being handed to an entirely new creative team.
Lee Unkrich, director of the original Coco, is returning, with Adrian Molina also back as a director. Pixar veteran Mark Nielsen is producing the sequel.
That is potentially important for a movie carrying the emotional weight of Coco.
The original film wasn’t simply successful because of its colorful depiction of the Land of the Dead. It connected with audiences through its themes of family, memory, music and the fear of being forgotten.
Having key members of the original creative team return gives Coco 2 a stronger chance of preserving that identity.
The Story Moves Forward—Not Backward
One of the most encouraging details is that Pixar isn’t simply resetting Miguel’s story.
The sequel takes place years after the events of the original film, allowing Miguel to grow into a different stage of his life.
That opens up a completely new set of questions.
What happens when Miguel’s childhood dream of becoming a musician becomes a serious part of his life?
How has his relationship with his family changed?
And what does it mean to grow up while still carrying the history of the people who came before you?
Those questions could give Coco 2 an emotional foundation that goes beyond simply recreating the first movie.
Can Ernesto Become a Threat Again?
This may be the sequel’s biggest storytelling challenge.
Ernesto’s downfall was one of the defining moments of Coco. Bringing him back risks diminishing the finality of that story.
But Pixar could potentially turn that problem into the sequel’s biggest strength.
Ernesto no longer needs to be the untouchable superstar he was in the first movie.
Instead, he could return as a fallen legend who has nothing left to lose.
A villain driven by resentment rather than fame could be considerably more dangerous—and could give Miguel a completely different kind of conflict.
When Does Coco 2 Release?
Pixar has confirmed that Coco 2 will arrive in theaters in:
November 2029
A specific release day has been reported as November 21, 2029, although the main D23 announcement has emphasized the November 2029 window.
The movie is expected to receive a full theatrical release before eventually making its way to Disney+.
Coco 2: What We Know
Detail| Information
Title| Coco 2
Studio| Pixar Animation Studios
Release| November 2029
Format| Animated feature
Miguel| Returns as a teenager
Dante| Returning
Ernesto de la Cruz| Returning
Voice of Ernesto| Benjamin Bratt
Directors| Lee Unkrich & Adrian Molina
Producer| Mark Nielsen
Story details| Mostly under wraps
Why Coco 2 Could Be More Than a Nostalgia Sequel
There is always a danger when Pixar revisits a beloved standalone movie.
Coco already had a powerful ending. Miguel discovered his family’s truth, restored music to the Rivera household and helped ensure that Héctor’s memory survived.
So the sequel needs a reason to exist.
Making Miguel a teenager is one possible answer.
Instead of asking “Who am I?”, Miguel can now ask “Who am I becoming?”
That is a natural progression for the character.
And bringing Ernesto back provides the external conflict while Miguel’s transition into adulthood provides the emotional one.
If Pixar can balance those two elements, Coco 2 could feel like a genuine continuation rather than an attempt to cash in on nostalgia.
Geeksterr Take
The first look at Coco 2 is surprisingly promising.
The decision to age Miguel up gives Pixar a chance to explore a completely different period of his life, while the return of Ernesto de la Cruz immediately creates unfinished business.
But the biggest advantage is the creative team.
With Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina returning, Coco 2 has a direct connection to the filmmaking DNA of the original.
The real test will be whether Pixar can make Miguel’s second journey feel emotionally necessary.
If it can, Coco 2 could become something rare: a sequel that doesn’t simply revisit the past, but uses the past to tell a new story about growing up, family and the legacy we leave behind.
Miguel has already crossed into the Land of the Dead once.
In 2029, he’s going back—and this time, Ernesto de la Cruz is waiting for him.
This Geeksterr article is an original report and analysis based on information revealed at D23 and current industry reporting. Story details remain subject to change as Pixar continues production.
