The Updated Inside Out Cast: Meet The 9 Voice Actors Behind Riley's New Emotions In 2024
The mind of Riley is getting a major renovation. With the release of the highly anticipated Pixar sequel, Inside Out 2, in June 2024, the emotional headquarters is undergoing a seismic shift as Riley enters the turbulent world of puberty. This means a mix of returning favorite voice actors and a fresh, star-studded cast to bring a whole new host of complex, teenage emotions to life, making this the most significant cast update in Pixar history. The sequel, which hit theaters on June 14, 2024, and is scheduled for a Disney+ release on September 25, 2024, introduces a fascinating new layer to Riley's inner world.
The core intention of the original film—exploring how our emotions govern our actions—is expanded upon in the sequel, which sees Joy, Sadness, and Anger confront a new team of emotions that threaten to take over the control panel. This article breaks down the full, updated cast, highlighting the exciting new additions and the notable recasting of two original emotions.
The Core Emotional Crew: A Complete Cast & Voice Actor Biography
The heart of Inside Out remains the five original emotions, though two have been recast for the sequel. The new cast members, especially those voicing the new emotions, bring a wealth of experience from critically acclaimed TV shows and films, ensuring the sequel maintains the high standard of voice acting set by the 2015 original. Here is a look at the main cast, both returning and new, for Inside Out 2.
- Amy Poehler (Joy): The undisputed leader of the original emotional headquarters, Poehler returns as the relentlessly optimistic Joy. A celebrated comedian, actress, and writer, Poehler is best known for her iconic roles as Leslie Knope on the sitcom Parks and Recreation and as a long-time cast member on Saturday Night Live (SNL). Her work in sketch comedy and sitcoms has made her one of the most recognizable voices in modern comedy.
- Phyllis Smith (Sadness): Smith reprises her role as the blue, melancholic Sadness, whose unexpected importance was a key theme of the first film. Smith is an American actress and comedian who gained widespread recognition for her role as Phyllis Vance in the beloved NBC sitcom The Office.
- Lewis Black (Anger): The explosive, red-hot Anger is once again voiced by comedian Lewis Black. Known for his distinctive style of stand-up comedy, which often features angry rants about politics and social issues, his voice is perfectly suited to Riley's most volatile emotion. He is a frequent correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show.
- Maya Hawke (Anxiety): One of the most talked-about new additions, Anxiety is voiced by Maya Hawke. The American actress and singer-songwriter is the daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke. She is globally recognized for her breakthrough role as Robin Buckley in the Netflix series Stranger Things, and her work in films like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
- Ayo Edebiri (Envy): Voicing the new emotion Envy, Ayo Edebiri is a rising star in comedy and acting. She achieved critical acclaim and won an Emmy and Golden Globe in 2024 for her role as sous chef Sydney Adamu in the hit FX series The Bear. Edebiri also has notable voice work as Missy Foreman-Greenwald in the animated series Big Mouth.
- Tony Hale (Fear - Recast): Taking over the role of the perpetually panicked Fear from Bill Hader is Tony Hale. Hale is a two-time Primetime Emmy Award winner, famous for his roles as the neurotic Buster Bluth in Arrested Development and Gary Walsh in the HBO comedy Veep.
- Liza Lapira (Disgust - Recast): The role of the green, judgmental Disgust, originally voiced by Mindy Kaling, is now played by Liza Lapira. A Filipino-American actress, Lapira has appeared in numerous TV shows and films, including a main role in the CBS series The Equalizer and the film 21.
- Adèle Exarchopoulos (Ennui): The French actress Adèle Exarchopoulos voices Ennui, the personification of boredom and listlessness, characterized by a classic French accent. She is an internationally acclaimed actress, best known for her Palme d'Or-winning performance in the 2013 film Blue Is the Warmest Color.
- Paul Walter Hauser (Embarrassment): Voicing the large, shy, and hoodie-wearing Embarrassment is Paul Walter Hauser. An American actor and comedian, Hauser has gained recognition for his roles in films such as Richard Jewell, for which he won a Golden Globe, and the series Cobra Kai.
The Recasting Controversy: Why Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling Did Not Return
The biggest change between the 2015 original and the 2024 sequel is the recasting of two major emotions: Fear and Disgust. In the first film, Fear was voiced by Bill Hader and Disgust by Mindy Kaling. Their absence in Inside Out 2 has been a point of curiosity and discussion among fans, especially since the other three core emotions—Joy, Sadness, and Anger—all returned.
The primary reason for the cast change was widely reported to be a salary dispute. According to industry reports, Amy Poehler, as the lead voice actor, was offered a significantly higher salary than the rest of the original cast for the sequel. When the other voice actors, including Hader and Kaling, sought comparable pay, negotiations reportedly stalled. This led to Pixar opting to recast the roles of Fear and Disgust rather than meet the requested salary parity.
Tony Hale and Liza Lapira have since stepped into the roles of Fear and Disgust, respectively. While they bring their own unique comedic talents and voices to the characters, the change highlights the complex business side of major animated productions, even beloved Pixar sequels. The new voice actors, however, have been praised for seamlessly integrating into the established emotional dynamic, with Hale's Fear capturing the same anxious energy and Lapira's Disgust maintaining the character's signature sass.
New Emotions: The Complexities of Teenage Riley's Mind
Inside Out 2 is set years after the first film, with Riley now a 13-year-old high school freshman navigating the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence. This crucial developmental stage, marked by puberty and social pressure, necessitates the arrival of a whole new "squad" of emotions at the emotional headquarters. These new characters, collectively known as the "Anxiety Squad," are central to the film's plot, challenging Joy's long-standing leadership and introducing more nuanced, mature feelings to Riley's core memories.
Anxiety (Maya Hawke)
Anxiety is the de facto leader of the new emotions and the most prominent new character. Voiced by Maya Hawke, Anxiety is an energetic, orange, and highly organized emotion whose goal is to prepare Riley for every possible negative future outcome. Her arrival signals a major shift in Riley's mind, as she attempts to "re-wire" the control panel to ensure Riley's future success, often at the expense of her present happiness. Anxiety's presence reflects the real-world increase in stress and worry that accompanies the teenage years.
Envy (Ayo Edebiri)
Voiced by Ayo Edebiri, Envy is a small, teal emotion who constantly looks up to others, coveting what they have. Envy’s role is to highlight Riley's growing awareness of social hierarchies and the desire to be someone else. Edebiri brings a subtle, yet powerful, performance to the character, showcasing how even seemingly small emotions can create significant internal tension and conflict.
Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos)
Ennui, voiced by Adèle Exarchopoulos, is the personification of boredom, apathy, and listlessness. This purple, French-accented emotion is often seen lounging on a couch, using her phone to remotely control the console with a dramatic, teenage lack of interest. Ennui perfectly captures the common adolescent feeling of being perpetually unimpressed and disconnected from the immediate world.
Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser)
Embarrassment is a large, pink, and gentle giant of an emotion who often hides himself in the hood of his oversized sweatshirt. Voiced by Paul Walter Hauser, Embarrassment represents the intense self-consciousness and mortification that comes with being a teenager. He is a surprisingly sweet character who tries to minimize Riley's awkward social moments, often by literally covering his face.
Nostalgia (June Squibb)
A surprise addition to the cast is the character Nostalgia, voiced by the legendary actress June Squibb. Nostalgia, a beige, elderly-looking emotion, makes a brief but memorable appearance, often reminiscing about the past prematurely. Her quick introduction serves as a humorous foreshadowing of the complex emotional landscape that Riley will continue to develop as she grows older, creating a fun meta-commentary on looking back at one's childhood.
The Future of Riley's Emotional Headquarters
The seamless integration of the new voice actors—Tony Hale and Liza Lapira into the existing team, and Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Adèle Exarchopoulos, and Paul Walter Hauser as the new emotions—has been a critical element in the success of Inside Out 2. The film’s updated cast and themes resonate deeply with the experience of coming-of-age, making the emotional headquarters a more crowded, chaotic, and ultimately richer place. The sequel successfully proves that the world of core memories, personality islands, and the control panel has plenty of new emotional territory to explore, ensuring Pixar’s continued reign in emotionally intelligent animation.
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