The incredibly charming marketing for Illumination Entertainment’s The Secret Life of Pets already seemed to scream like it could (and should) be turned into a franchise. When the film opened back in early July, it received high praise from critics and audiences, and is currently sitting at over $400 million at the worldwide box office. So, this pet-centric comedy has managed to hit the mark with almost everyone, which, according to Variety, has convinced the studio enough to give the green light for a sequel, set to hit theaters in 2018.

It’s not surprising these days to see any summer blockbuster get a sequel shortly after its theatrical run, particularly with family-friendly ones like The Secret Life of Pets. And while sequel announcements are not always met with a smile, at least this film was generally well-liked by audiences. The great ensemble cast, beautiful animation, and charming tone were some of the main reasons why it was a success, although it will be a test to see if those qualities can be carried over multiple films.

However, the biggest mystery is finding out how many members of the original cast will return. Strong animation and charm are good to have, but this cast’s talent did help to shroud the film’s weaker aspects. But since its not hitting for a couple years, there will surely be plenty of thought put into making the sequel work just as well as the first film did.

The Secret Life of Pets 2 is set to hit theaters on July 13, 2018.