While 2011’s “Puss in Boots” was well-liked and a typical DreamWorks film, 2022’s “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” was surprisingly exceptional – a darker meditation on death and found family. In an exclusive interview with The Direct while promoting “Forgotten Island,” co-directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado were asked about the possibility of “Puss in Boots 3”. Mercado teased that: “I’m sure there’s things stirring in development… He’s such a beloved character, and that last movie really invigorated the franchise.” Asked about bringing characters back, Crawford says: “Oh, definitely, and [we] would say, not just limiting it to just Puss in Boots. Ultimately, the film made around fifteen times its opening weekend gross domestically – taking in $186.1 million as well as $484.3 million worldwide from a tight $110 million budget.