Disney built an empire on fairytales and talking animals and earworm songs, but it’s important to note that they do sometimes go off the beaten path and try something different. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always work for them, and this is a great example of that. It wasn’t a traditional Disney movie but that’s maybe why time has made its reputation stronger and 25 years later, the underrated sci-fi is getting a sequel.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire is officially on its way back, with Atlantis: The Lost Empire Vol. 1 – The Curse of Kurok, a graphic novel sequel from Papercutz in partnership with Disney. Written by Matthew K. Manning and illustrated by Christian Colbert, The Curse of Kurok is being described as a direct follow-up of the 2001 animated film. The story will see Milo and Kida joining forces again as a new monstrous threat rises against the sunken city. According to the synopsis, it will take “all of their bravery and ingenuity to find the secrets below the waves” and “discover what ancient fables from Atlantis’s past are the key to unlocking the safety of their future.”
The cast of Atlantis: The Lost Empire includes Michael J. Fox (Back to the Future) as Milo Thatch, Cree Summer (Inspector Gadget) as Princess Kida, James Garner (The Notebook) as Commander Rourke, Claudia Christian (Babylon 5) as Helga Sinclair, Phil Morris (Smallville) as Dr. Sweet, Don Novello (The Godfather Part III) as Vinny, David Ogden Stiers(Beauty and the Beast) as Mr. Harcourt, and Leonard Nimoy (Star Trek) as King Kashekim Nedakh.
How Successful Was ‘Atlantis: The Last Empire’?
Financially, Atlantis: The Lost Empire was a disappointment for Disney. It grossed about $84.1 million domestically and $186.1 million worldwide, against a reported budget often listed between $90 million and $120 million. Box Office Mojo lists the budget at $120 million, which makes the worldwide total look pretty underwhelming once marketing is factored in. Adjusted for today, that’s roughly $150 million domestic and $330 million worldwide on a budget that would be around $215 million.
Critically, it was mixed at the time. Rotten Tomatoes has it at 48% with critics and 55% with audiences, with the consensus saying it has fast-paced spectacle but lacks in character development and coherent plotting. That said, its reputation has definitely improved, and it’s now widely treated as one of Disney’s most interesting cult favorites from that experimental post-Renaissance era.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire Vol. 1 – The Curse of Kurok will be released on October 13, 2026.
via Collider