The 9 New Emotions: Meet The All-Star Cast Of Inside Out 2 And The Shocking Recasts

The highly anticipated sequel, Inside Out 2, is set to hit theaters on June 14, 2024, ushering in a brand new era of emotional chaos for Riley. This time, the beloved core emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—face a dramatic "demolition" of Headquarters as Riley, now a 13-year-old teenager, enters the turbulent world of puberty. The film’s success hinges on a blend of returning and all-new, high-profile voice talent, introducing a wave of complex emotions that perfectly capture the teenage experience, led by the scene-stealing Anxiety.

The updated cast list features Hollywood heavyweights and recent award winners, with some notable recasts for two of the original emotions. From Emmy winners to Palme d’Or recipients, the voice booth is packed with talent ready to bring Riley’s new, complicated "Sense of Self" to life. This is your complete guide to every major voice actor, both old and new, and the iconic roles they play in the Pixar sequel.

Inside Out 2: Full Voice Cast and Star-Studded Biographies

The cast for Inside Out 2 is a mix of comedy legends reprising their roles and a fresh crop of award-winning actors bringing the new, more complex teenage emotions to the screen. Here is a complete breakdown of the main voice cast, their characters, and their notable career highlights.

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Returning Core Emotions:

• Amy Poehler as Joy: The relentlessly optimistic leader of the emotions. Poehler is an American comedian, actress, writer, producer, and director, best known for her time on Saturday Night Live and her iconic role as Leslie Knope in the sitcom Parks and Recreation.
• Phyllis Smith as Sadness: The blue, gentle, and essential emotion. Smith is an American actress who famously played the shy sales representative Phyllis Vance on the popular NBC sitcom The Office. She originally worked as a casting associate before being cast in the role.
• Lewis Black as Anger: The short-tempered, fiery red emotion. Black is a Grammy Award-winning American stand-up comedian, actor, and author, renowned for his signature "King of Rant" comedic style, which involves comedic yelling and finger-pointing.

Recast Core Emotions:

• Liza Lapira as Disgust: The green, sassy, and judgmental emotion (originally voiced by Mindy Kaling). Lapira is an American actress known for her extensive television work, including a starring role as Melody "Mel" Bayan on the CBS series The Equalizer.
• Tony Hale as Fear: The purple, skittish, and cautious emotion (originally voiced by Bill Hader). Hale is an Emmy Award-winning American actor best known for his roles as Buster Bluth in Arrested Development and Gary Walsh in Veep.

The New Emotions (The Puberty Crew):

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• Maya Hawke as Anxiety: The new, high-energy, orange emotion who takes center stage in the sequel. Hawke is an American actress and singer-songwriter, the daughter of actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, and is most famous for her breakout role as Robin Buckley in the Netflix series Stranger Things.
• Ayo Edebiri as Envy: The small, adorable, but powerful turquoise emotion. Edebiri is an American actress, comedian, and writer who achieved critical acclaim and won a 2024 Emmy and Golden Globe Award for her role as Sydney Adamu in the hit FX series The Bear.
• Adèle Exarchopoulos as Ennui: The apathetic, purple emotion representing boredom and listlessness. Exarchopoulos is a French actress who, in 2013, became the youngest person ever to win the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for her lead role in Blue Is the Warmest Colour.
• Paul Walter Hauser as Embarrassment: The large, shy, and pink emotion who hides in his hoodie. Hauser is an American actor who won a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy Award for his starring role as murderer Larry Hall in the 2022 true crime miniseries Black Bird.

Riley and Family:

• Kensington Tallman as Riley Andersen: The host, now a 13-year-old girl entering high school (replacing Kaitlyn Dias). Tallman is a younger actress known for roles in TV movies and series.
• Diane Lane as Riley’s Mom and Kyle MacLachlan as Riley’s Dad also return to their roles, reacting to the external changes in their teenage daughter.

The Shocking Recasts: Why Mindy Kaling and Bill Hader Did Not Return

One of the biggest talking points surrounding Inside Out 2 has been the absence of the original voice actors for Fear and Disgust. In the 2015 original, Fear was voiced by Bill Hader, and Disgust was voiced by Mindy Kaling. For the sequel, these roles were taken over by Tony Hale (Fear) and Liza Lapira (Disgust).

While Pixar has not issued a detailed statement, reports suggest the changes were due to salary disputes. It is understood that Amy Poehler, the voice of Joy, received a significantly higher salary for the sequel, while the other original cast members were offered a different, lower amount. Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling reportedly chose not to return after the salary negotiations did not meet their expectations, leading to the recasting of two beloved, foundational emotions.

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This situation has led to mixed reactions from fans, but the new voice actors are celebrated talents. Tony Hale is a master of nervous, highly-strung characters from his Emmy-winning work on Arrested Development and Veep, making him a natural fit for Fear. Liza Lapira brings a fresh, quick-witted energy to Disgust, ensuring the emotion remains a sharp, essential part of the Headquarters team.

The New Emotional Landscape: Puberty, Anxiety, and the Sense of Self

The core theme of Inside Out 2 is the turbulent transition from childhood to adolescence, specifically the onset of puberty. The sequel takes place two years after the original, with Riley turning 13 and facing the overwhelming social and emotional pressures of high school.

This developmental stage triggers a "sudden demolition" in Headquarters, making room for the "Puberty Crew," a group of new, more complex emotions that reflect the teen mind. The film introduces at least four major new emotions, with Anxiety being the most prominent and arguably the film’s central antagonist, eager to take control of Riley’s mind.

The arrival of Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment fundamentally changes the dynamic. The new emotions represent the heightened self-awareness, social comparison, and existential boredom that define the teenage years. They challenge the original emotions' methods, particularly Joy’s, on how to best navigate Riley’s life.

Anxiety: The New Emotional Driver

Maya Hawke’s character, Anxiety, is the key to the sequel’s plot. Unlike the original emotions, which were largely reactive, Anxiety is proactive, trying to "prepare" Riley for every possible future scenario—a classic symptom of teenage stress. Anxiety’s actions lead to the creation of a new, fractured "Sense of Self" for Riley, a central concept that the original emotions must fight to restore. This deep dive into the nature of self-identity and mental health provides the emotional depth that made the first film a classic.

Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment: The Supporting Trio

The other new emotions provide essential texture to Riley’s teenage mind:

• Envy (Ayo Edebiri): Represents the comparisons and longing that come with navigating social hierarchies in high school. Her small size belies her powerful influence.
• Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos): Personifies the detached, eye-rolling boredom often associated with teenagers. She is a subtle but pervasive force, often seen lounging and scrolling on her phone.
• Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser): A large, gentle giant who is perpetually mortified by Riley’s actions, spending most of his time trying to hide, reflecting the intense self-consciousness of adolescence.

By integrating these new, complex emotional entities, Inside Out 2 promises to be a timely and relevant exploration of the teenage mind, continuing Pixar’s tradition of blending groundbreaking animation with profound emotional storytelling. The star-studded, updated cast is perfectly positioned to deliver a performance that will resonate with audiences of all ages.