THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2

Another illuminating look at our animals

Director Chris Renaud

Starring Patton Oswalt, Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish

“It is always a challenge to come up with a storyline for a sequel,” says Pets 2 director Chris Renaud. “You want to deliver new concepts, characters and locales while being sure not to abandon what the audience liked most about the original film. We discussed and developed many ideas until we landed on this version that we felt took us in a new direction.” The next film from studio Illumination (Minions) once again digs into the funny side of what our fur-babies get up to when we’re not around. “I think the vet scene [in the teaser trailer] is representative of the movie in the sense that we always look for situations that are recognisable to a pet owner,” says Renaud. This time out (replacing disgraced comic Louis C.K.), Patton Oswalt voices Max. “Patton has a warmth and vulnerability that really captures the character of Max,” says Renaud. Max’s relationship with Duke

(Eric Stonestreet) will still be key, and there will be “some additional odd-couple pairings with some of our original and new characters” promises Renaud. But above all else, the sequel “like the first, is truly a celebration of the animals we love”. We’re in for a (doggy) treat. MM the Secret Life of pets 2 opens on 31 august.