So far DreamWorks Animation has revealed a big lineup for the upcoming few years. Today DreamWorks revealed a new list of films coming in 2017 and beyond.
Captain Underpants
Directed by: Rob Letterman
Release date: January 13, 2017
Untitled Kevin Lima Bollywood Musical (formerly Mumbai Musical)
Directed by: Kevin Lima
Old release date: March 18, 2016
New release date: March 10, 2017
The Croods 2
Directed by: Chris Sanders & Kirk De Micco
Release date: November 3, 2017
Larrikans
Directed by: Tim Minchin
Release date: February 16, 2018
Madagascar 4
Directed by: Unknown
Release date: May 18, 2018
Puss in Boots 2: Nine Lives & 40 Thieves
Directed by: Unknown
Release date: November 2, 2018
The Untitled Kevin Lima Bollywood Musical has been moved back nearly a year form March 18, 2016 to March 10, 2017. Kung Fu Panda 3 was originally set to release March 18, 2016 but there was a lot of shifting around at DreamWorks and the film moved up a few months to December 23, 2015. Star Wars: Episode VII is releasing December 18, 2015, so having Kung Fu Panda 3 release five days after Star Wars probably isn’t a good idea. So, to avoid competition, it seems likely that Kung Fu Panda 3 will soon be pushed back to its original date of March 16, 2016 (or it’s possible the studio could release it a few months earlier in 2015).
Next up are three new sequels: The Croods 2, Madagascar 4 and Puss in Boots 2. We’ve heard rumors of Chris Sanders working on a Croods sequel and we’ve heard some rumors on a Puss in Boots sequel so those announcements didn’t really came as a surprise to me, but the announcement of Madagascar 4 did. Personally I thought Madagascar 3 was a great final chapter in this trilogy and with a Penguins of Madagascar spin-off later this year I didn’t expect and didn’t need a fourth film featuring the Madagascar gang, but DreamWorks does so. However I’m interested to see how this turns out since they’ve traveled around the entire world at they no longer have the mission to go back to New York.
I really liked The Croods, but don’t think that a The Croods 2 is necessary. Either way I don’t mind revisiting the beautiful world of The Croods with these great characters, so I’m definitely looking forward to that. I know Chris Sanders is an amazing filmmaker and storyteller so I can’t wait what he and his team come up with for this sequel.
Last but not least DreamWorks announced a sequel to the Shrek spin-off Puss in Boots named Puss in Boots 2: Nine Lives & 40 Thieves. The name is obviously version of the Arabian Nights tales, so will most likely feature a new scenery and settings, which is nice for a sequel. I loved the first Puss in Boots (it’s one of my personal favorite DreamWorks movies). The title sounds promising so I’m excited to learn and see more about this in the upcoming years.