Disney finally said it. After years of radio silence and that weird feeling that the franchise had frozen over for good, Ice Age 6 is officially happening. It’s wild. Most of us thought Collision Course in 2016 was the end, especially after Blue Sky Studios—the original heart and soul of these movies—shuttered its doors in 2021. But nostalgia is a hell of a drug for studio executives. During D23 Brazil in late 2024, a video surfaced that basically broke the internet for animation fans. It wasn't a leak or a rumor. Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, and Queen Latifah were right there on screen, confirmng that the herd is coming back.
Honestly, the cast of Ice Age 6 is the only reason people are actually hyped for this. If it were a complete reboot with new voices, fans would probably riot. There is something about Ray Romano’s dry, nasal "Manny" voice that feels like a warm blanket. It’s familiar. It’s home. But bringing back a cast this big, especially after Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, wasn't a guarantee.
The Core Herd: Who is officially returning?
Ray Romano is back as Manny. It’s confirmed. You can’t have Ice Age without the grumpy mammoth who started it all. Romano’s involvement was the first big "yes" the production needed. Alongside him, John Leguizamo is returning as Sid the Sloth. Leguizamo has been vocal about his love for Sid over the years, often joking about how the lisp he invented for the character actually changed his life. Then you have Denis Leary as Diego. There was some chatter online for a minute that maybe Diego wouldn't make the cut, but Leary is locked in.
- Ray Romano (Manny): The anchor of the group.
- John Leguizamo (Sid): The chaotic energy.
- Denis Leary (Diego): The cynical saber-tooth.
- Queen Latifah (Ellie): Manny's better half.
- Simon Pegg (Buck Wild): The high-octane weasel.
Simon Pegg is a particularly interesting addition to the main billing this time around. While he joined later in the series (specifically Dawn of the Dinosaurs), his character Buck Wild basically carried the franchise during the lean years. Remember The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild on Disney+? That movie was... controversial. Mainly because none of the original A-list stars showed up for the voices. It felt off. It felt "budget." Seeing Pegg back alongside the "Big Three" tells us Disney is actually putting money into Ice Age 6.
Why the original voices matter for Disney's strategy
Animation is expensive. A-list talent is even more expensive. So, why did Disney shell out for the original cast of Ice Age 6 instead of just hiring sound-alikes? Look at the numbers. The Ice Age franchise has raked in over $6 billion globally. It is one of the most successful animated properties in history. But the brand took a hit with the 2022 Buck Wild spin-off.
Fans noticed immediately that Manny didn't sound like Ray Romano. It felt like a knock-off. By securing the original stars, Disney is trying to signal that this isn't just a streaming filler project. This is a theatrical-grade event. They need that E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust) but for movies. You trust Manny when he sounds like Ray. You don't when he sounds like a guy doing a Ray Romano impression.
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What about the supporting characters?
This is where things get a bit murky. We know the heavy hitters are back, but what about the rest of the family? Seann William Scott and Josh Peck played the opossum brothers, Crash and Eddie, for years. They are staples. However, in the 2022 spin-off, they were recast with Vincent Tong and Aaron Harris.
While Disney hasn't explicitly confirmed if Scott and Peck are returning for the cast of Ice Age 6, the theme of this production seems to be "reunion." It would be weird to have Queen Latifah back as Ellie but not have her brothers played by the original actors. Then there's Peaches, Manny and Ellie's daughter. Keke Palmer voiced her in the last two films. Given Palmer's massive stardom right now, bringing her back would be a huge win for the marketing team.
And we have to talk about Scrat.
The legal drama surrounding Scrat was a mess for a while. Ivy Silberstein, the creator who spent years fighting for the rights to the "Squirrat" character, finally reached a settlement. For a moment, it looked like Scrat was gone for good. But he appeared in a series of shorts on Disney+ titled Ice Age: Scrat Tales. While Scrat doesn't "talk" in the traditional sense (Chris Wedge, the director of the first film, usually provides the grunts and screams), his presence is the DNA of the series. If Wedge is back to provide those iconic frantic noises, the movie will feel complete.
The New Additions?
Every sequel needs new blood. While no specific names have been dropped for new characters yet, rumors in the industry suggest Disney is looking for a "younger" comedic lead to bridge the gap for a new generation of kids who weren't alive when the first movie came out in 2002. Think about that. 2002. Some of the original fans are now taking their own kids to see this.
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The elephant (or mammoth) in the room: Blue Sky Studios
You can't talk about the cast of Ice Age 6 without acknowledging the ghost in the room. Blue Sky Studios was based in Greenwich, Connecticut. When Disney bought Fox, they shuttered Blue Sky. It was a heartbreaking moment for the animation industry.
Ice Age 6 is being produced under the 20th Century Animation banner, likely with heavy involvement from Bardel Entertainment or another third-party studio Disney frequently uses. This changes the "feel" of the movie. Even with the original cast, the visual style might shift. The original animators had a specific way of handling "squash and stretch" that made Ice Age feel different from Pixar or DreamWorks.
When will we actually see it?
The current timeline puts Ice Age 6 in theaters around 2026. Animation takes forever. Even if the scripts are done and the cast of Ice Age 6 has recorded their lines, the rendering and lighting phases are brutal.
Wait. Why did it take ten years?
- The Fox-Disney merger slowed everything down.
- The closure of Blue Sky Studios left the franchise without a home.
- Script development went through several iterations to move away from the "aliens" plot of the fifth movie (which many fans felt went off the rails).
What the story might look like
While the plot is under wraps, the casting gives us clues. With Buck Wild returning, we can expect more of the "Lost World" or subterranean elements. But the heart of these movies has always been the "found family" dynamic. Manny is now a grandfather (if we follow the Peaches timeline), Sid is... well, Sid, and Diego is the cool uncle.
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The stakes need to be high. We’ve had a flood, a meltdown, dinosaurs, continental drift, and an asteroid. What’s left? Most fans are hoping for a "back to basics" approach. Fewer gimmicks, more character-driven comedy. The chemistry between Romano, Leguizamo, and Leary is what built this empire. If the script allows them to riff like they did in the early 2000s, it's going to be a hit.
How to stay updated on Ice Age 6
If you're looking to track the progress of the film, keep an eye on official Disney press releases rather than "leak" accounts on X or TikTok. Most of those are just AI-generated nonsense.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch Scrat Tales on Disney+: It’s the most recent "real" Ice Age content that captures the original spirit and features Chris Wedge’s involvement.
- Follow the Voice Actors: John Leguizamo and Simon Pegg are very active on social media. They are usually the first ones to drop "behind the scenes" booth photos once recording sessions hit high gear.
- Check D23 Announcements: Disney saves their biggest reveals (like teaser trailers or full cast lists) for their D23 events. The next major update is likely to drop there.
- Revisit the Originals: To appreciate the growth (or lack thereof) of these characters, re-watching the original trilogy is a must. It reminds you why we cared about a grumpy mammoth and a fast-talking sloth in the first place.
The return of the cast of Ice Age 6 isn't just a payday for some celebrities. It's an attempt to reclaim one of the most beloved animated legacies. Whether it can capture the magic of the original 2002 film remains to be seen, but having the original voices back in the recording booth is the best start we could have asked for.