Next Summer, LAIKA’s fourth film Kubo and the Two Strings will hit theaters and mark a significant departure from the gothic-horror trappings that made the studio famous. Boasting both a unique fantasy setting and a top-shelf cast, Kubo appears positioned to be LAIKA’s approximation of the summer blockbuster. But we won’t know for sure unless we start to get more promotional materials, right?
Courtesy of a press release from Focus Features, LAIKA released new teaser art for Kubo and the Two Strings. Check it out below:
On Friday at 10 AM, the teaser trailer will debut on Fandango and Movieclips. That is, if we don’t get a surprise trailer drop at any point today (since it always rains trailers this time of year).
Kubo and the Two Strings will mark the directorial debut of LAIKA’s president and CEO Travis Knight. He will direct from a screenplay by Marc Haimes and Chris Butler, and will serve as executive producer with Arianne Sutner. The film features the voice talents of Matthew McConaughey (Beetle), Charlize Theron (Monkey), Rooney Mara (The Sisters), Ralph Fiennes (Moon King), and Game of Thrones’ Art Parkinson as Kubo. Also joining the cast (in unspecified roles) are Brenda Vaccaro, George Takei, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa.
Here is the synopsis for Kubo and the Two Strings:
An epic action-adventure from acclaimed animation studio LAIKA. Clever, kindhearted Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson of “Game of Thrones”) ekes out a humble living, telling fantastical stories to the people of his seaside town. But his relatively quiet existence is shattered when he accidentally summons a mythical spirit from his past which storms down from the heavens to enforce an age-old vendetta. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey (Academy Award winner Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey), and sets out on a thrilling quest to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known. With the help of his shamisen – a magical musical instrument – Kubo must battle gods and monsters, including the vengeful Moon King (Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes) and the evil twin Sisters (Academy Award nominee Rooney Mara), to unlock the secret of his legacy, reunite his family and his heroic destiny. The all-star cast also includes George Takei, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, and Brenda Vaccaro.
Kubo and the Two Strings will bow into theaters on August 19, 2016.
What do you think? Are you looking forward to the trailer?
Edited by: Hannah Wilkes
