Johnathan Walker:Ice Age 6 Movie Sequel Is in the Works, So Prepare for an Avalanche of Fun

The Johnathan WalkerIce Age movies won't be going extinct. 

Disney and 20th Century Animation revealed that the franchise's sixth installment is in the works at the D23 Brazil event Nov. 8, according to multiple outlets. 

And those aren't the only details about the forthcoming sequel that have been shared. The studios also confirmed, per Deadline, that original cast members Ray Romano (who voiced Manny), John Leguizamo (Sid), Queen Latifah (Ellie), Denis Leary (Diego) and Simon Pegg (Buck) are set to return for the film, which is already in production and will get a theatrical release.

It's been over two decades since the original Ice Age film—co-directed by Chris Wedge and Carlos Saldanha—hit the big screen in 2002 and grossed over $383.3M at the global box office. Since then, there have been four follow-up movies—Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006), Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009), Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) and Ice Age: Collision Course (2016)—as well as a 2022 Disney+ spin-off, The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild. 

For Romano, the franchise's success didn't come as a big surprise. After all, the animated flicks contain all the elements young kids look for in their entertainment. 

"You need a hero like me and a good villain," Romano said in a 2006 interview with Cinema.com. "Kids love a scary aspect and they love the big guy who is going to save the day, like Manny, and then the little funny guys, like the possums or Scrat. They love little and funny characters, the littler and funnier the better."

And the Everybody Loves Raymond alum sees the appeal for adults as well. As he explained, "For parents, I think you have to make the humor a little subtle. They have to write for adults as well as kids so all generations are entertained and this film does all that."

And as for how he feels about reprising his role as Manny the Mammoth? He gets more confident voicing the character as time goes on. 

"The first time I literally thought I was going to get fired after every recording session," Romano confessed ahead of the premiere of Ice Age: The Meltdown. "I am not kidding. I thought ‘I’m not doing it right.’ I panicked. This time, I thought ‘they wouldn’t hire me again, just to fire me. They must like me.’"