Willem Dafoe Returns For ‘Finding Dory’: ‘It’s Even Better Than The First’

Willem Dafoe confirmed that he will be returning for Finding Dory, the sequel to Finding Nemo.

Dafoe provided the voice of Gill, a moorish idol and leader of the “Tank Gang.”

The 58-year-old told Total Film, “Yeah I’ve already started. It’s even better than the first. It’s fantastic. It’s good to say I think it’s going to be better than the first; that’s good advertising!”

Finding Nemo was released in 2003, but Dafoe didn’t think the amount of time that has passed between films would have an adverse effect on Finding Dory.

“It’s difficult to repeat a success and so many years afterwards, but it’s really cool,” he said. “I’ve done one session so far and I just am going to have such a good time.”

Dafoe wouldn’t give up too much about the plot, but what is known is that Finding Dory takes place one year after Finding Nemo. Andrew Stanton, who directed the first film, will also be returning for the sequel.

“In Finding Dory, she will be reunited her loved ones, learning a few things about the meaning of family along the way,” Stanton said.

In August, Pixar changed the end of the film, which is set in a SeaWorld-like marine park, in response to the documentary Blackfish. The new ending gives the mammals and fish in the park the option to leave. At the time, the studio said the film would still make its release date. But last month, Disney announced that Finding Dory and The Good Dinosaur had both been pushed back.

Finding Dory was originally scheduled for November 25, 2015, but will now be released June 17, 2016. The Good Dinosaur was scheduled for May 30, 2014, but is now set for November 25, 2015.

Willem Dafoe also recently joined Josh Boone’s The Fault In Our Stars. He will play Peter van Houten, a reclusive, alcoholic author living in Amsterdam.

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