Universal Pictures has released the final trailer for the upcoming animated sequel The Secret Life of Pets 2. The film hails from the immensely successful animation studio Illumination Entertainment, which is behind the Despicable Me movies as well as last fall’s The Grinch, which quietly grossed over half a billion dollars.
The Secret Life of Pets sequel sees the return of director Chris Renaud and finds Max (now voiced by Patton Oswalt, who took over for Louis C.K.) coping with major life changes. His owner has a new husband and a toddler, which causes tremendous anxiety—something my dog Luna can relate to very much.
But this trailer reveals that the sequel offers up a change of setting, as Max and his friend Duke (Eric Stonestreet) accompany the family on a trip to the farm. This obviously provides the opportunity to dig into the secret lives of farm animals, while also helping to diversify the aesthetic of the franchise a bit.
The Big City is still there, however, anchored by storylines involving Gidget (Jenny Slate) and Snowball (Kevin Hart). The Snowball story looks particularly egregious, as the bunny opts to become a crime-fighting superhero—no doubt Universal’s attempt to position the animated sequel as appealing to fans of superhero movies.
Check out the final The Secret Life of Pets 2 trailer below followed by a new poster. The film also features the voices of Tiffany Haddish, Harrison Ford, Lake Bell, Hannibal Buress, Nick Kroll, Dana Carvey, Ellie Kemper, Pete Holmes, Garth Jennings, and Bobby Moynihan. The Secret Life of Pets 2 opens in theaters on June 7th.
Here’s the official synopsis for The Secret Life of Pets 2:
Terrier Max (Patton Oswalt) is coping with some major life changes. His owner (Ellie Kemper) is now married and has a toddler, Liam. Max is so worried about protecting the boy that he develops a nervous tic. On a family trip to a farm, Max and mutt Duke (Eric Stonestreet) encounter canine-intolerant cows, hostile foxes and a terrifying turkey, all of which only elevates Max’s anxiety. Luckily, Max gets some guidance from veteran farm dog Rooster (Harrison Ford, making his animated-film debut), who pushes Max to ditch his neuroses, find his inner alpha, and give Liam a little more freedom.
Meanwhile, while her owner is away, plucky Pomeranian Gidget (Jenny Slate) tries to rescue Max’s favorite toy from a cat-packed apartment with a little help from her feline friend, Chloe (Lake Bell), who has discovered the joys of catnip.
And crazy-but-cute bunny Snowball (Kevin Hart) gets delusions of grandeur that he’s an actual superhero after his owner Molly starts dressing him in superhero pajamas. But when Daisy (Tiffany Haddish), a fearless Shih Tzu, shows up to ask for Snowball’s help on a dangerous mission, he’ll have to summon the courage to become the hero he’s only been pretending to be.
Can Max, Snowball, Gidget and the rest of the gang find the inner courage to face their biggest fears?