Monday Musings: A Wishlist for The Incredibles 2

Last night we introduced Samwise to his first superhero film: The Incredibles. It went over the same as almost every movie we've shown him that isn't Moana: some interest, but he spent most of the movie playing in the floor instead. In addition to reminding me why I love this movie so much, the experience got me thinking about the sequel due out next summer.

We haven't heard a whole lot about the movie so far; we know that Helen (Elastigirl) will be the central character the way Bob (Mr. Incredible) was in the first film. We know that Frozone, Edna, and the Underminer will all return. And we know that the movie picks up right where the first one left off: with the Incredibles facing off against the Underminer.

So, with that in mind, here's my wishlist for The Incredibles 2:

• A time jump. Yes, the movie picks up with the fight against the Underminer, but that could easily be the opening fight sequence that sets the stage for the film. I'd like to see at least a small time jump of a few years for a couple of reasons. First, it allows Jack-Jack to age up (allowing us to see what becomes of his powers). Second, it allows the relationships from the first film (including Violet and Tony's) to develop and reach a point where they can be more dramatically moving than they would be if the film simply acts as a "part 2" to the first.

• An onscreen appearance for Honey, Lucius' wife. She's obviously a strong person if she has been married to Lucius all these years, and I would like to see her utilized as more than an end-of-movie comic relief. (Also, can you imagine the girls weekend with her, Helen, and Edna?)

• Speaking of Honey: Did Lucius make it back in time to save her evening?

• Violet and Dash's expanding roles as heroes and members of the family. Depending on how far ahead we jump after the battle with the Underminer, this could be anything from Dash entering adolescence and Violet navigating high school/prepping for college to Dash simply being Dash and Violet trying to balance her dates with Tony and her time as a hero.

• More fabulous fashion from Edna, along with perhaps a more expanded role? Edna is obviously close with Helen, and I doubt their renewed friendship will cool any time soon. While the Incredibles may not need new supersuits (aside from the kids sizing up), even with a time jump, Edna seems to act as much as counselor and friend as she does a Q-like inventor and designer.

• A villain whose presence stretches the family in new ways. Since Helen's role is more central to this film, it's likely the villain is someone with a special connection to her. Whether this means the villain is a former love interest (which would offer a chance to reverse some of the first film's tension), a mentor, or someone who simply dislikes Helen, I expect Brad Bird will not skimp on the heart of the matter: the Parr family, and especially Bob and Helen's marriage. Bird has said he wants to keep the emphasis on the family matters, and that's the best thing he can do. The relationships between these people are what made the first film so great, and I have no doubt that will continue in the sequel.

What about y'all? Anything you want to see in The Incredibles 2 that I failed to mention?