Could there ever be a sequel to “The Boy and the Heron?” At the moment, there’s nothing in development and the chances of a follow-up from Miyazaki aren’t good. First, the story doesn’t present any real path forward for a follow-up film to work from. The story ends on a pretty conclusive note with Mahito and his reformed family moving away and the cycle seemingly broken so no future generations will get sucked into that fantasy world to meet Great Uncle. Even if the film is a global success critically and financially, neither Studio Ghibli nor Miyazaki are known for doing sequels. Of course, the biggest reason that “The Boy and the Heron” won’t have a sequel is that Miyazaki is seemingly retiring.
Back in 2013, after the release of “The Wind Rises,” Miyazaki announced his retirement with some famous last words. At a news conference covered by Entertainment Weekly, he said, “I know I’ve said I would retire many times in the past. Many of you must think, ‘Once again.’ But this time I am quite serious.” Obviously, that didn’t stick, but the official word from Studio Ghibli going into the release of his latest offering is that “The Boy and the Heron” will indeed be Miyazaki ‘s final film. As such, chances of a sequel are slim to none. Another director (his son, perhaps?) could opt to enter this world down the line, but, as “The Boy and the Heron” teaches us, sometimes walking your own path is the best way to go.
