Chris Meledandri has plans for several franchises that Illumination Entertainment helped bring to pop culture. Ina recent interview with Variety, he talked to Brent Lang and Ethan Shanfeld about the future of Sing, Despicable Me and Secret Life of Pets. While the team is focussed on the release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, what’s being advertised as next is Migration.
“It represents Illumination’s ongoing commitment to telling original stories, which I think is essential to culture,” Meledandri said to Variety. The characters in this next feature is about ducks, that’s sure to not run afoul of critics. The response for the current film has so far been very mixed.
But what I am excited about is in the projects he’s involved in beyond his own studio. He also collaborates with DreamWorks Animation and Shrek might come back! In summary, the fifth movie is going to be a “reboot,” and it should bring back the original cast. This CEO said, “Talks are starting now, and every sign that we’ve gotten is there’s tremendous enthusiasm on behalf of the actors to return.”
Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy have made no official announcements, but it’ll be great to hear this trio together again. In a different interview, the latter said, “They have to want to do it. DreamWorks, if you all want to do it, just call me. I’m ready, I’m sitting and ready to do Donkey,” in a prior Variety report.
As for Sing, Meledandri revealed they’re deep into development for a third film, and it’ll go into a brand-new world where the cast is not just putting on another musical. Maybe we’ll see them finally at the top of their game, and they have to plan how to embark on a global tour. That would be the next logical step. after Sing 2 (movie review).
And regarding Despicable Me, this company head revealed what’s next: The Minions are set to invade TikTok before going to YouTube! These will be animated shorts that Pierre Coffin concocted. Fans can watch “Who’s Who” and “Bones Story” in May. The latter is an original tale which has my curiousity!
Unfortunately for the Secret Life of Pets (movie review), nothing won’t be made yet. The producers have a couple of ideas that are being worked on, but nothing’s ready to commit to storyboard.
“The story is told with humour and heart. It’s a remarkably human story with characters who are very relatable and end up wrestling with issues that we all understand, even though they are ducks. And their qualities as ducks are incredibly well executed, from the smallest detail on a feather to their movements and their flight. So it’s a movie that transports you into this world up in the sky, but at the same time it’s very true to who we are.”
Source: Variety Interview with Chris Meledandri.
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