The Polar Express 2: Will It Happen? Everything We Know (2024)

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  • The Polar Express 2 Is Confirmed As In Development

  • The Fake Tom Hanks Polar Express 2 Poster Explained

  • The Polar Express 2 Story Details

The Polar Express, a 2004 American animated Christmas fantasy film, and its recent surge in popularity has led to speculation over The Polar Express 2 release date. Directed by Robert Zemeckis and based on the 1985 children's book by Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express uses a blend of live-action and motion-capture computer animation. Its story unfolds on Christmas Eve in the 1950s, following a young boy who embarks on a magical train journey to the North Pole, delving into the heart of Christmas spirit and belief.

Upon release, The Polar Express garnered mixed reviews but was recognized for its technological innovation and was listed in the 2006 Guinness World Records as the first all-digital capture film. Despite initial critiques about its animation dipping into the uncanny valley, the film has been embraced over time and is considered one of the best Christmas movies for kids. Following a fake A.I. poster, there have been talks about The Polar Express 2 release date.

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The Polar Express Cast Guide: Who Voices Each Character

The Polar Express is a holiday classic, and here is a full breakdown of the the cast and characters from the beloved Robert Zemeckis film.

The Polar Express 2 Is Confirmed As In Development

The Sequel Still May Not Happen After All

The Polar Express 2: Will It Happen? Everything We Know (2)

Since the project is very clearly in the extremely early stages of development, The Polar Express 2 is probably just a kernel of an idea being floated by the studio.

Though excitement over a potential sequel was drummed up in late 2023 due in large part to a fake poster that circulated on social media, there were no actual plans for The Polar Express 2. However, that all changed in early 2024 when The Polar Express 2 was announced as in development by producer Gary Goetzman. Two decades after Robert Zemeckis' cult classic Christmas movie hit theaters, Goetzman claims that the movie "is trying to be worked out now, for sure". Despite that cryptic clue, the producer has provided no further details on the project.

Though the announcement is exciting, Goetzman's claims do not guarantee that the movie will ever get made. Since the project is very clearly in the extremely early stages of development, The Polar Express 2 is probably just a kernel of an idea being floated by the studio. Several factors hinder the movie's future, including the fact that Chris Van Allsburg never wrote a sequel and that the original movie was something of a notoriously expensive flop upon release.

According to Box Office Mojo, The Polar Express made $300 million against a reported budget of $165 million. The common rule of thumb for determining a film's actual budget is to double the production budget, which means The Polar Express may have cost as much as $330 million to make.

The Fake Tom Hanks Polar Express 2 Poster Explained

A Viral Hoax Fooled Many Fans Online

The Polar Express 2: Will It Happen? Everything We Know (3)

The rumors around a sequel were first stirred in November 2023 by an AI-generated poster for a fictional movie titled The Christmas Express. The poster, featuring Tom Hanks as the iconic train conductor, suggested a live-action Polar Express rather than CG style and claimed a December 2023 release exclusive to the Max streaming service. The convincing yet fictitious poster, created by a Facebook satire page named YODA BBY ABY, went viral, being shared over 110,000 times with enthusiastic reactions from fans.

Small details made the poster even more convincing. A number of Warner Bros. movies were made exclusively for HBO Max, including another Christmas legacy sequel, 2022's A Christmas Story Christmas, which led many to believe in the sequel's existence. However, the poster was ultimately revealed to be fake. As it remains, The Polar Express 2 release date is nonexistent, even if it is in development.

The Polar Express 2 Story Details

What Could Happen In The Sequel?

The ending of The Polar Express was conclusive, but the magic of Christmas never fades. The sequel could catch up with the characters from the original movie as adults, or introduce a new set of kids who get to experience their own adventure aboard the train. The moral lessons of The Polar Express are pretty stock-standard for a Christmas movie, and the biggest hurdle that The Polar Express 2 would need to get over is devising some twist on the Christmas message. However, with two decades passing between movies, the sequel could explore the modern world's impact on Christmas faith.

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The Polar Express

G

Animation

Adventure

Fantasy

Holiday

Based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express is an animated holiday-fantasy film by director Robert Zemeckis. A young boy is spirited away on Christmas Eve aboard the magical Polar Express, where he meets new friends on a journey to rediscover their belief in Christmas.

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Director
Robert Zemeckis

Release Date
November 10, 2004

Studio(s)
Castle Rock Entertainment , Shangri-La Entertainment , Playtone , ImageMovers , Golden Mean

Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures

Writers
Robert Zemeckis , William Broyles Jr.
Cast
Tom Hanks , Daryl Sabara , Nona Gaye , Jimmy Bennett , Eddie Deezen , Peter Scolari , Michael Jeter

Runtime
100 Minutes

Budget
$165 Million
  • The Polar Express 2: Further News & Info

    Polar Express 2 In Development 20 Years Later
The Polar Express 2: Will It Happen? Everything We Know (2024)

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