The Emoji Movie 2: Virtual Virus Hunters

The Emoji Movie 2: Virtual Virus Hunters is a 2028 American computer-animated comedy film directed by Tony Leondis and written by Leondis, William Wheeler, Sammy Burch, and Lorne Michaels. Produced by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, it is based on emoji faces, smileys, and graphics used in electronic messages and the sequel to The Emoji Movie (2017). The returning voices of T.J. Miller, James Corden, Anna Faris, Maya Rudolph, Steven Wright, Jennifer Coolidge, Patrick Stewart, Sean Hayes, Sofía Vergara, and Christina Aguilera are joined by Gary Oldman, Keanu Reeves, Paul F. Tompkins, Bobby Moynihan, Eddie Murphy, Camilla Cabello, Nate Torrence, and H. Jon Benjamin. In the film, Gene and his emoji friends team up with a group of digital virus hunters inspired by the four team members of the Ghostbusters movies to stop a shapeshifting virus from infecting the entire electrical system across the United States of America, including cell phones, laptops, television sets, and even Blu-ray and DVD players.
The Emoji Movie 2: Virtual Virus Hunters premiered at Westwood on July 10, 2028, and was released theatrically in the United States on July 21, 2028. It grossed over $231 million worldwide but received generally negative reviews from critics, who criticized its product placement, humor, and pacing, although the animation, voice performances, script, and tone received praise, and many considered it an improvement over its predecessor. It was also nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-Off, or Sequel. A third film is in development.
== Synopsis ==
Two months after the events of the first film, Textopolis has been restored to its former glory, with its text center's supervisor Smiler being demoted from her position to the center's janitor. Gene, the multi-expressive emoji, has become Textopolis' most-respected emoji, in addition to forming close relationships with Hi-5 and Jailbreak (best friend of the former, boyfriend of the latter). The emojis' human user Alex has also begun a romantic relationship with his classmate Addie McCallister, and the two are planning on spending the whole Thanksgiving break together. While coming back from a Netflix date in the wallpaper, Gene and Jailbreak encounter a shapeshifting virus named Vinnie, who swarms around the phone, and has the intent of infecting the entire electrical system, which includes cell phones, laptops, television sets, and even Blu-ray and DVD players. This puts the emojis into a state of panic, that is, until four digital virus hunters inspired by the Ghostbusters four team members, known here as the "Ghostbuddies" and consisting of Jeff Walters, Frank Goodman, Aaron Hudson, and Samuel Marcus, show up and decide to take care of the virus business themselves. Gene and his friends will team up with the Ghostbuddies to stop Vinnie from infecting the entire virtual universe before it's too late and they get deleted from existence forever.
== Voice cast ==
* T.J. Miller as Gene Meh, a "meh" emoji who can show various expressions
* James Corden as Hi-5, a goofy, British-accented hand emoji representing a high five signal and Gene's best friend
* Anna Faris as Jailbreak, a tech-savvy hacker emoji who was revealed to be a princess emoji named Linda and Gene's girlfriend.
* Maya Rudolph as Smiler, a smiley emoji seeking vengeance on Gene for being demoted from text center supervisor to janitor.
* Gary Oldman as Vinnie, a shapeshifting virus that wants to infect America's entire electrical system.
* Keanu Reeves as Jeff Walters, the leader of the Ghostbuddies
* Paul F. Tompkins as Frank Goodman, the "muscle" of the Ghostbuddies
* Bobby Moynihan as Aaron Hudson, the brains of the Ghostbuddies who also designs and builds the team's equipment
* Eddie Murphy as Samuel Marcus, the wisecracking comic relief of the Ghostbuddies
* Steven Wright as Mel Meh, Gene's emoji father who shares the same multi-expressionist trait as his son
* Jennifer Coolidge as Mary Meh, Gene's full-on meh emoji mother
* Camilla Cabello as Cristela Cortez, a worried but attractive salsa dancer emoji and an acquaintance of the Ghostbuddies
* Nate Torrence as Frankie, an adventurous fencer emoji
* Sofía Vergara as Flamenca, a flamboyant flamenco dancer emoji
* Sean Hayes as Steven, a wisecracking devil emoji
* Patrick Stewart as Poop, a fancy, well-mannered poop emoji
* Christina Aguilera as Akiko Glitter, the "super-cool" dancer who lives in the Just Dance app
* H. Jon Benjamin as Hull, a body-building gorilla emoji
* Jake T. Austin as Alex Hernandez, a Latino human teenager who owns and operates the smartphone where Gene and his emoji friends reside
* Tati Gabrielle as Addison Pinkava "Addie" McCallister, Alex's supportive Caucasian girlfriend
* Sammy Burch as a robot emoji
* William Wheeler as a bull emoji
* Bill Murray as himself
* Dan Aykroyd as himself
* Ernie Hudson as himself
* Annie Potts as herself
* Sigourney Weaver as herself
* Tony Leondis as Laughter, Broom, Pizza
* Liam Aiken as Ronnie Ramtech, one of the two programmers that select which Emoji to display on a phone.
* Snoop Dogg as Snoopy Dogg, a fictionalized version of himself, who appears in two cameos singing "Drop It Like It's Hot" and "Who Am I (What's My Name?)", respectively.
* Dave Chappelle as Mike Messenger, the self-proclaimed Mayor of Textopolis.