CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS sequel pushing forward

A sequel to Sony Pictures Animation's 2009's Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is pushing forward with the help of John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Horrible Bosses), who have signed on to draft a new script. The initial box office hit was loosely based on 1970s children's book of the same title written by Ron and Judi Barrett. In an odd move, the sequel will be based on the original book and not the Barretts' follow-up book, Pickles to Pittsburgh.

The LA Times reports that Phil Lord and Chris Miller will not return to direct the sequel. The producers are said to be seeking a new director that has worked in a lower-profile capacity developing the story for the original. The first film was about "an inventor named Flint Lockwood and a nerdy weather forecaster in the fantasy town of Chewandswallow, which comes under threat when food begins falling from the sky in place of normal precipitation." Sony released a 3D Blu-ray version of the first film, despite it not being released theatrically in 3D. It is not currently known if the studio will release the sequel in 3D.

A sequel to Cloudy makes perfect sense from a financial standoint for Sony. The original film had a voice cast that included Bill Hader and Anna Faris, grossed $125 million in the U.S. and an additional $118 million around the world. Daley and Goldstein wrote the script for the upcoming Steve Carell film Burt Wonderstone. Daley is best known for playing the role of Sam Weir on the cult TV hit Freaks and Geeks.

I hope that they do not plan on releasing the sequel in 3D. If Hader and Faris do not come back, then there is no point in making the film I think. I enjoyed this in theaters and would be interested in seeing the sequel. What are your thoughts?