The Polar Express 2 is being “worked out,” according to producer Gary Goetzman—but that comment is not a formal Warner Bros. announcement or confirmation that the film has been greenlit. No release date, production start, plot or returning cast has been confirmed in the sources cited here.
What the producer actually said
In an early-2024 interview with ComicBook, producer Gary Goetzman said: “So, they all take time and that’s okay because we don’t mind things going slowly. But that is trying to be worked out now, for sure, ‘Polar 2’.” The Direct quoted the remark in its June 18, 2024 report, noting that the sequel’s precise development stage was unclear: The Direct’s report.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Polar Express (DVD) (WS) | $9.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Polar Express (DVD) (FS) | $9.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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The Polar Express (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition) | $12.63 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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The Polar Express / How the Grinch Stole Christmas (DVD) (Double Feature) | $13.65 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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The Polar Express | $4.99 | Buy on Amazon |
That is evidence that Goetzman said the project was being worked out. It is not, by itself, evidence of a studio greenlight, a production schedule or a finished script. No separate Warner Bros. announcement confirming the sequel was identified in the sources cited here.
What Warner Bros. has—and has not—confirmed
Warner Bros. Discovery’s August 6, 2026 shareholder letter names selected releases and franchise projects for 2026, 2027 and beyond, but does not name The Polar Express 2. The letter’s silence means only that the sequel is not among the titles named in that disclosure; it does not rule out unannounced development work. You can read the WBD 2Q26 shareholder letter filed with the SEC.
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Based on these sources, the sequel has no confirmed release date or production start. Its story, director and cast have not been confirmed either.
Will Tom Hanks or Robert Zemeckis return?
There is no confirmation in the cited sources that Tom Hanks or director Robert Zemeckis will work on a sequel. Warner Bros. Entertainment Italia’s official page for the original film identifies Zemeckis as director and lists Hanks among its cast; those original-film credits are not evidence of sequel involvement.
Rank #2
What a sequel would follow
The 2004 film is an animated adventure made with motion capture, directed by Zemeckis and starring Hanks, according to Warner Bros. Entertainment Italia. It is based on Chris Van Allsburg’s picture book, first published by Houghton Mifflin in 1985. A March 15, 2026 Galveston Railroad Museum release says the book has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide and won the Caldecott Medal in 1986.
The book’s enduring popularity and the original film’s legacy provide context for interest in a sequel, but neither establishes that a new film is in production.
Rank #3
- When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.Running Time: 100 min. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN Rating: G Age: 085393895426 UPC: 085393895426 Manufacturer No: 1000001542
How to read the available evidence
| Evidence | What it supports | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Gary Goetzman’s reported 2024 comment | The producer said “Polar 2” was being worked out. | A formal studio greenlight, production start, release date, plot or cast. |
| WBD’s August 6, 2026 shareholder letter | The sequel is not named among the selected titles listed there. | That no private or unannounced development work exists. |
| Warner Bros. page for the original film | Zemeckis directed the original; Hanks is in its cast. | Either person’s involvement in a sequel. |
Where to watch for a meaningful update
A dated studio announcement or an on-the-record update that specifies production, cast or timing would change what can be said about the project. Until then, Goetzman’s comment is the clearest evidence of possible sequel development, while the key production details remain unconfirmed.
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