Is Steven Spielberg Ever Going To Give Us a Sequel to His Only Animated Movie?

Is Steven Spielberg Ever Going To Give Us a Sequel to His Only Animated Movie? Jamie Bell as Tintin in The Adventures of TintinImage via Paramoiunt Pictures By  Chris Williams Published 18 minutes ago Chris Williams is a writer with more than 20 years of experience writing about film.  He began his career working as a reporter for the Advisor and Source Newspapers in Shelby Township, Michigan, where he also served as the resident film critic. He has also written for Patheos and CinemaNerdz. Since 2020, Chris has written the Chrisicisms newsletter, which features reviews of recent film releases and thoughts on a variety of subjects.  Chris holds a B.A. in communications and an emphasis in journalism and an M.A. in communications with an emphasis on media arts and studies, both from Wayne State University in Detroit.  He lives in the Detroit area with his wife and his son and daughter.  Sign in to your Collider account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

When The Adventures of Tintin was released in December 2011, it was intended to be the start of a new franchise. Teaming with Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg brought Hergé’s beloved comic hero to a new generation in his animated feature debut. The film was a blend of motion-capture animation and high adventure, full of swashbuckling energy, witty banter, and globe-trotting thrills. It was a critical and commercial success. With several books to draw from, it seemed an ongoing series about the adventures of the Belgian journalist was inevitable. Yet, nearly 15 years later, there’s still no sequel, and no confirmation that one is on the horizon.

‘The Adventures of Tintin’ Was a Hit With Franchise Potential

Captain Haddock and Tintin examining a clue in The Adventures of TintinImage via Paramount Pictures

After Raiders of the Lost Ark drew comparisons to Hergé’s comics, Spielberg set out to bring Tintin to the screen, meeting with the artist’s widow after Hergé’s death in 1983. Partnering with producer Kathleen Kennedy and later Peter Jackson, Spielberg decided that animation would best capture Tintin’s spirit. Jackson’s Weta Digital, the studio behind The Lord of the Rings and Avatar, provided the technology to bring Tintin to life. Nearly 30 years after Spielberg first pursued a Tintin movie, the film debuted and was a technical breakthrough. Spielberg used the new tools to stage thrilling sequences impossible in live action, including a stunning, unbroken seven-minute chase through a Middle Eastern village that remains one of the decade’s most memorable action sequences. The film went on to gross more than $370 million worldwide. Critics praised its visual inventiveness and pulpy tone, and it won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature.

With a hit film and Tintin books having sold more than 200 million copies, it seemed like a new franchise had been born. Jackson was already committed to the sequel, with Spielberg producing. All they needed was to wait for Jackson to finish his work on The Hobbit, and they could bring the Belgian journalist back for more adventures. And yet, 14 years later, the franchise still lies dormant.

The Hobbit Years and a Long Delay

Hollywood schedules are rarely simple. The two-part Hobbit movie ended up becoming a trilogy that tied Jackson up for years, pushing Tintin 2 down the priority list. Spielberg turned his attention to a string of prestige projects, including Lincoln, Bridge of Spies, The Post, West Side Story, and the coming-of-age drama The Fabelmans. But a Tintin sequel was always assumed to be on the horizon. In 2016. Spielberg told a New Zealand magazine that Jackson was still committed to the sequel:

“Peter was so busy with ‘The Hobbit’ that it took him away from ‘Tintin’ and he’s doing another film for my company now. It’s a secret, nobody knows about it. Then after that he’ll do Tintin.”

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That secret Amblin project never materialized, and Jackson’s work since has focused largely on documentaries, such as the remastered World War One film They Shall Not Grow Old and the Disney+ series The Beatles: Get Back. The last official word came from Spielberg in 2018, speaking with Premiere, in which he said:

“Peter Jackson is to direct the second film. If all goes well, he'll be working on the script soon. Since the film takes two years of animation work, if I were you, I wouldn't expect to see it for about three years. But Peter will stick to it. Tintin isn't dead!”

Seven years on, Jackson’s IMDB still lists a Tintin sequel as in development, but notes that the status is unknown. Spielberg has an untitled Universal UFO film scheduled for release in 2026. In 2024, Tintin co-star and motion capture legend Andy Serkis told a reporter at the Annecy animation festival that “Peter Jackson is definitely working on [the Tintin sequel],” but no official announcement followed.

There Are Still Tintin Stories To Tell

'The Black Island' Tintin Book CoverImage via Little, Brown, and Company

Tintin is a popular global property at a time when worldwide box office sales continue to struggle. Spielberg is still relevant, and it’s been too long since Jackson delivered a dose of adventure away from Middle-earth. Even if the duo is too busy to make it work, co-star Serkis has since directed several films, including Venom: Let There Be Carnage and the upcoming Animal Farm. He is also taking the reins of the Lord of the Rings franchise to helm The Hunt for Gollum. He would be an ideal heir apparent for the Tintin franchise.

There are still plenty of Tintin stories left to tell, each packed with mystery, humor, and intrigue. A sequel could explore Professor Calculus and his inventions or expand the friendship between Tintin, Captain Haddock, and the bumbling detectives Thomson and Thompson. There’s even room to modernize Tintin’s adventures, keeping the spirit of discovery alive without losing the comics’ timeless charm.

In the years since Tintin’s release, the landscape of family adventure films has shifted. Superheroes and modern IP dominate the box office, and traditional globe-trotting adventures are fairly dormant, aside from video game adaptations like Uncharted and one last Indiana Jones adventure. But Tintin occupies a unique space: it’s timeless, grounded in curiosity rather than cynicism. A sequel could bring a new dose of old-fashioned adventure to theaters.

Will Tintin Ever Return?

Fifteen years is a long time to wait, but Tintin’s fans are nothing if not patient (although that patience might have a limit). The books have been beloved around the world for nearly 100 years; it seems inevitable that Herge’s character will return to screens – either in theaters or streaming, via live action or animation – at some point, perhaps with a new creative team.

But it feels only right for Spielberg and Jackson to give it one more try. Their legacy is rooted in escapism, and audiences may show up for one last big adventure from the duo. Both have left the door open, and motion-capture technology is more powerful than ever. The only missing ingredient is time, and perhaps the same curiosity that sent Tintin chasing mysteries across continents in the first place.

The Adventures of Tintin is available to rent or buy on VOD services.

The Adventures of Tintin

Like Follow Followed PG Animation Release Date October 25, 2011 Runtime 107 minutes Director Steven Spielberg Writers Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish

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• Jamie Bell
• Andy Serkis

Genres Animation Powered by Expand Collapse

• Movie Features
• The Adventures of Tintin
• Peter Jackson

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