The Wild Robot Escapes: What Happens In The Movie’s Sequel Book

The following contains spoilers for The Wild Robot, now playing in theatersAs an animated movie based on a book, The Wild Robot already has a sequel plan created for it in The Wild Robot Escapes, the second book in Peter Brown’s The Wild Robot trilogy. The first book in this trilogy provides the basis for DreamWorks’ adaptation of The Wild Robot, introducing ROZZUM “Roz” 7134, Brightbill, Fink, and all the other animals of the island in a beautifully heartfelt way. This story is important for showing the change in Roz as she transitions from a robot who simply accomplishes tasks to a mother who protects everyone she can.

The Wild Robot‘s bittersweet ending sees Roz sacrificing herself by returning to Universal Dynamics to protect the island and its inhabitants, though the promise of her return lingers and opens up the potential for a sequel – as does The Wild Robot‘s post-credits scene. That’s where The Wild Robot Escapes enters, picking up essentially where The Wild Robot movie has left off. Given how faithful the movie truly is to its source material, it’s very likely that another movie could be made based on the book’s sequel. Here’s what happens in that sequel, and how it could translate to the screen.

The Wild Robot Escapes Is About Roz Trying To Get Back To The Island

She Never Stops Missing Home

Having become an integral part of the island and even considering it to be a home, Roz is ready to plan her escape back to the island right when The Wild Robot Escapes picks up. She, however, gets a new assignment at Hilltop Farm, owned by a man named Mr. Shareef. Roz dedicates herself to this task, and though she begins to enjoy her work and cares for Mr. Shareef’s two children, Jad and Jaya, she never stops missing Brightbill and the rest of the island. Jad and Jaya help her to escape by removing her transmitter.

Meanwhile, Brightbill reunites with his mother at Hilltop Farm, having heard of her whereabouts from other flocks of geese. He does his best to help her on the journey back home to the island, but they run into many obstacles – including run-ins with a troublesome pack of wolves led by a wolf named Shadow and a chase through a busy city that has the RECOs closing in on Roz. These obstacles make it seem as if Roz will never get back to the island, building suspense in a way that truly takes things up a notch for both Roz and Brightbill.

The Wild Robot Escapes Moves The Setting To The Human City & A New Farm

It’s No Longer Just The Island

Rather than focusing on the island, The Wild Robot Escapes introduces Roz’s new setting: the Hilltop Farm and the human city that’s near it. The farm is disheveled when Roz arrives, hence why Mr. Shareef needs a robot like Roz in the first place to take care of it for him. On the farm, Roz comes to befriend the cows, though she makes an enemy of Shadow and his fellow wolves. On one occasion, the farm even experiences a tornado, one that leaves Roz in bad shape until Mr. Shareef and his children get her fixed up again.

The human city is also filled with robots, many of whom are fulfilling tasks on behalf of their human owners. Roz goes through this city on her escape journey back to the island, which sees her making some more animal friends – namely pigeons and rats – and even taking the train to expedite her travels. Though little time is spent here in comparison to the farm, it’s still a far cry from the island setting where most of the story takes place in The Wild Robot.

Which The Wild Robot Characters Return In The Sequel

Not As Many As Expected

Obviously, the two main characters who return in The Wild Robot Escapes are Roz and Brightbill, with Roz remaining the lead subject while Brightbill returns to help guide his mother back home. Throughout the majority of the story, no other characters from The Wild Robot make an appearance. The animals of the island do get to make an appearance at the end of the sequel, when the story makes a full return to the beloved island and its inhabitants – and with The Wild Robot‘s incredible cast, they would certainly want to make use of this moment.

How The Wild Robot Escapes Ends

Does Roz Return Home?

Roz’s escape from the RECOs in the city doesn’t go well. Separated from Brightbill with nowhere else to turn, Roz’s leg is disintegrated, and she is captured by them once again. When she wakes, she comes face-to-face with her designer, Dr. Molovo. As the lead robot maker, Dr. Molovo is very familiar with Roz’s story, and she even admits to admiring everything Roz has come to accomplish during her time on the island. Still, the doctor insists Roz has to be destroyed for the sake of all humans, and despite Roz’s pleas for mercy, the robot is powered down.

Roz, however, wakes and discovers that though she is no longer in her ROZZUM 7134 body, Dr. Molovo has secretly placed her head on a stronger body – one without a power button. The doctor then returns both Roz and Brightbill to the island on her own ship, where she gives her word to keep a protective eye over the island and ensure no further danger from humankind. Roz gets to reunite with the other animals on the island, and she celebrates her homecoming with them before enjoying a sunset with her son.

How The Wild Robot Movie Set Up The Wild Robot Escapes’ Story

Roz’s Promise & Brightbill’s Leadership

The Wild Robot has set up this story for its sequel in various ways. Most notably, the movie leaves off with the promise that Roz will return to the island one day, something she says to reassure the animals who are reluctant to see her go – especially after fighting so hard for her to stay. It also teases the fact that Roz’s true nature has remained intact, as she and Brightbill share a heartfelt moment when he returns to visit her during his next migration. Both these moments assure audiences that Roz is still capable of returning home one day.

The more substantial aspects of The Wild Robot Escapes have also been set up. With Brightbill being the leader of his migration group, he has no trouble going off on his own to help Roz get back home, as he has both the bravery and the freedom to do so. Roz also has other motivations for coming back to the island aside from just Brightbill, most notably Fink’s implication that he also wants to tell her he loves her. The Wild Robot movie should have no trouble adapting the first book’s sequel, should DreamWorks desire to do so.