It’s been a while since we’ve reported anything about Illumination Entertainment’s Untitled Pets Movie, one of two Illumination films set for 2016. So it’s about time we break that silence and bring you couple new updates on the film, including what is assumed will be the title and additions to the cast.
Potential Title?
According to an unconfirmed source, the film will reportedly be called The Secret Life of Pets. This particular title has been circulating the web for quite some time, with the source being a PDF file listing recent and future releases from Universal Pictures International.
The only other evidence pointing to this title being legit is a picture of the film’s banner at last year’s Licensing Expo, featuring the tagline: “Discover the secret life of pets.”
Again, this is coming from an unconfirmed source. And until we are given any official confirmation or clarification from Illumination or Universal, this could very well be the title of the film (or at least, what we can call the film until further notice).
Cast Additions
The film also added a slew of new actors to it’s cast, lead by Louis C. K. (Max), Eric Stonestreet (Duke), and Kevin Hart (Snowball).
According to The Wrap, Bobby Moynihan will provide the voice of a pug named Mel, who loves to flirt. Lake Bell will voice a sarcastic cat named Chloe, while Albert Brooks will voice a pet named Tiberius. Hannibal Buress and Ellie Kemper are also on board for unspecified roles, although word has it that Buress will have a ‘significant voice role’ while Kemper is expected to be the voice of Max’s human owner.
Keeping consistent with the leads of the film, the rest of the cast consists of a mix of established and up-and-coming comedic talents. At this point, that probably says more about the tone of the film than its rumored title.
The film will be written by Illumination’s household scripting team of Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, and directed by Chris Renaud and Yarrow Cheney. Here’s the plot synopsis below:
For one bustling Manhattan apartment building, the real day starts after the folks on two legs leave for work and school. That’s when the pets of every stripe, fur and feather begin their own nine-to-five routine: hanging out with each other, trading humiliating stories about their owners, or auditioning adorable looks to get better snacks.
The building’s top dog, Max (Louis C.K.), a quick-witted terrier rescue who’s convinced he sits at the center of his owner’s universe, finds his pampered life rocked when she brings home Duke (Stonestreet), a sloppy, massive mess of a mongrel with zero interpersonal skills. When this reluctant canine duo finds themselves out on the mean streets of New York, they have to set aside their differences and unite against a fluffy-yet-cunning bunny named Snowball (Hart), who’s building an army of ex-pets abandoned by their owners and out to turn the tables on humanity… all before dinnertime.
The Secret Life of Pets will bow in theaters on February 12, 2016.
What do you think? Do you like the proposed title? Are you impressed with the cast so far?
