After many years of waiting, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is coming, and this time there’s a dog. The film is a sequel to 2011’s Puss in Boots, which itself was a spinoff of the 2004 film Shrek 2, the first movie in the franchise to feature the Zorro-esque orange tabby voiced by Antonio Banderas.
Many attribute the success of the Shrek sequels to Puss in Boots as a character, both for his witty nature and adorable design. Fans were vocal about wanting a sequel to the Academy Award-nominated film, and a sequel was soon put into production, originally titled Puss in Boots 2: Nine Lives & Forty Thieves. Unfortunately, the film was cancelled due to corporate restructuring at DreamWorks.
Nothing was heard about a sequel again until February 2019, when Puss in Boots: The Last Wish was officially announced. Very little was known about the sequel for several years, possibly due to Covid delays, but in March 2021, the film was officially given a September 2022 release date. Along with this news, it was announced that Banderas would return to voice Puss for the movie.
Once again, fans are being showered with news as NBCUniversal releases a first look image of Puss, Kitty Softpaws, and a new dog character, Perro. Kitty Softpaws originated in the first Puss in Boots film and was voiced by Salma Hayek. Perro is new to the franchise and will be voiced by What We Do in the Shadows star Harvey Guillén.
Along with this first look image, several other A-list names have been announced as joining the Puss in Boots 2 cast. Banderas, Hayek, and Guillén are set to be joined by Florence Pugh as Goldilocks, John Mulaney as Jack Horner, and Wagner Moura (Narcos) as the bounty hunter Big Bad Wolf. Other newly announced actors to join the cast are Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Only Murders In The Building), Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone, Anthony Mendez (Jane the Virgin), and Samson Kayo (Our Flag Means Death).
No additional characters have been announced, but it is likely that more information will be revealed when the first Puss in Boots 2 trailer releases on 15 March. It may be hard to live up to 10 years of anticipation, and fans might be weary of a return to the franchise. But, with The Croods: A New Age’s director and producer on board, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish will hopefully be able to exceed expectations.
