Universal Pictures has set the release date for two new animated films from DreamWorks Animation including the long-in-development Puss in Boots sequel which will be titled Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Oscar nominee Antonia Banderas is officially returning to voice the beloved Shrek character, who will again grace the big screen on Friday, September 23, 2022.
In addition, the studio has also announced the release date of DreamWorks Animation’s newest original animated feature titled The Bad Guys which is scheduled to arrive in theaters on Friday, April 15, 2022. The said release date will see the film going up against another high-profile film in the form of Paramount Pictures’ romantic comedy The Lost City of D starring Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum.
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Puss in Boots: The Last Wish will be directed by Joel Crawford, who is coming off from the critical success of last year’s The Croods: A New Age. Produced by Mark Swift, the sequel will again follow Puss in Boots as he discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll: He has burned through eight of his nine lives, leaving him with only one life left. Puss sets out on an epic journey to find the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives.
The 2011 Puss in Boots featured an ensemble voice cast led by Antonio Banderas as the titular talking cat. The film also starred Golden Globe-nominated actress Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton, Constance Marie, Mike Mitchell and Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro, who also served as executive producer. The original also earned a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the 84th Academy Awards.
The Shrek franchise grossed nearly $3 billion between 2001 and 2010. The Puss in Boots spin-off in 2011 earned an additional worldwide box office of about $555 million.
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Based on Aaron Blabey’s best-selling children’s book series, The Bad Guys follows five notorious bad guys who’ve been behind big heists—Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark, and Ms. Tarantula—as they attempt their most challenging job yet…going good.
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Pierre Perifel (Kung Fu Panda films) will be making his feature directorial debut with Etan Cohen and Patrick Hughes set as executive producers. Damon Ross and Rebecca Huntley have also boarded the film to serve as producers.
