Sony Pictures Animation just press released the hell out of their payload for 2017 and 2018, detailing what they have on the horizon and exactly what they plan on doing with Spider-Man and the Ghostbusters next, not to mention a complete reboot of the Smurfs and something with emojis. They have five theatrical features on their slate, in addition to three intriguing television series… and there's one direct-to-video release we already clued you in on awhile back.
But let's run down their plans in chronological for maximum dramatic effect…
SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE – a fully-animated comedy that basically ignores those live-action/CG-hybrids parents shuddered at taking their kids to and is said to get back to the tone and style of the Smurfs we fondly remember from our collective pasts. Kelly Asbury (SHREK 2, GNOMEO & JULIET) will direct, with the voice cast looking like this: Demi Lovato as Smurfette, Jack McBrayer as Clumsy, Joe Manganiello as Hefty, Danny Pudi as Brainy, and Rainn Wilson as Gargamel, with Mandy Patinkin as Papa. That film can be expected on April 7, 2017.
EMOJIMOVIE: EXPRESS YOURSELF – a comedic take on the secret world of our phones and the beloved characters that we annoyingly overuse in our texts, emails, etc. Anthony Leondis (LILO & STITCH 2) directs with an August 2017 release being targeted.
THE STAR (working title) – a computer-animated feature about a small but brave donkey and his animal friends who become the unsung heroes of the greatest story ever told, the first Christmas. I don't remember that story being referenced in the Bible, but that's revisionist history for you in the hopes of attracting the faith-based audiences. December 8, 2017 is when that film is currently scheduled for, to capitalize on the holiday season obviously.
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3 – because when the first two make a ton of money for you, why not go back to the well for a third trip? This will mark the follow-up to Sony Pictures Animation’s highest grossing film in the U.S. and will bring Genndy Tartakovsky back to the director's chair. Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez and Andy Samberg will be reprising their roles as the voices of Dracula, his vampire daughter Mavis, and her human husband Johnny, and that sequel is set for September 21, 2018.
From Phil Lord & Chris Miller, an animated SPIDER-MAN feature is coming, with a December 21, 2018 release date being laid claim to. Lord is also handling the scripting duties for the film, and Bob Persichetti (head of story on PUSS IN BOOTS and THE LITTLE PRINCE) will be making his directorial debut as everyone's favorite neighborhood web-slingers hits the big screen – again – in animated form.
The Ghostbusters will be getting the television treatment for GHOSTBUSTERS: ECTO FORCE. The animated series will further expand the Ghostbusters cinematic universe and focus on a new generation of Ghostbusters in the year 2050 as they capture ghosts around the world with the help of local teams and some cool futuristic gear. Ivan Reitman and the Ghost Corps production are handling the creative on the show, which will aimed at kids for an early 2018 debut.
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA will also be adapted to a television series as the title HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: THE TELEVISION SERIES so clearly states. The show, set to air on the Disney Channel, will focus on the teenage years of Mavis, Dracula’s daughter, and her friends, as it hits the cable airwaves sometime in 2017.
And then there's CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS, which will be turned into a series for Cartoon Network in 2017.
And finally, for fans of the WWE and/or SURF'S UP, there's the long-awaited SURF’S UP 2: WAVEMANIA, turns WWE Superstars into surfing penguins when it hits the home entertainment market in the Spring of 2017.
That's a lot to process… Some of it promising, some of it not. So which are you looking forward to? Which are you dreading? Let us know!