Apple and Skydance Animation amicably split, though plans remain to continue live-action & TV projects

Last Updated on November 3, 2023

Some people say all good things must end, and that is the case for Apple and Skydance Animation, who say they’re parting ways. While this is disappointing news, a silver lining remains. Apple is continuing its partnership with Skydance Media, with plans to work together on live-action film and television projects. The parting comes after the union’s multi-year deal ends. As a parting gift (of sorts), Skydance Animation keeps Spellbound, Vicky Jenson’s animated fantasy epic starring Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, John Lithgow, Nathan Lane, Jenifer Lewis, and Javier Bardem, to name a few.

Skydance Animation is likely to find a new home quickly, perhaps with a studio more interested in producing animated projects instead of epics like Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon. Thankfully, Skydance Media remains in a good place with Apple as new and existing projects like Foundation, The Big Door Prize, and a comedy featuring Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey remain at Apple TV+.

According to Deadline, Spellbound will have Kidman voicing Ellsmere, the kind yet hyper-precise Queen of Lumbria, with Bardem as Lumbria’s boastful yet big-hearted King, Solon. Together, they are the parents of Princess Ellian (Zegler), who they join on her daring quest to save her family and kingdom after a mysterious spell transforms them into monsters and threatens to cover Lumbria in darkness forever. Lithgow and Lewis will voice Princess Ellian’s royal advisors, Minister Bolinar and Minister Nazara Prone, with Lane and De Shields as The Oracles of the Sun and Moon that Ellian seeks to break the spell on her parents and the kingdom. Additional characters aiding Ellian throughout her journey include the young nomad Callan, voiced by Fisher.

Lauren Hynek, Elizabeth Martin, and Linda Woolverton will pen the script for Spellbound. John Lasseter, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and David Lipman produce through Skydance Animation. Meanwhile, Academy Award winner Alan Menken is arranging the film’s original score and songs, with song lyrics by Glenn Slater. Chris Montan will executive produce the music.

Are you excited about Spellbound? Do you think Skydance Animation is interested in partnering with another studio? Who do you think will scoop them up? Let us know in the comments below.