The Wild Robot
The Wild Robot is an upcoming American animated science-fiction survival film based on the book series of the same name by Peter Brown, produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures. The film was written and directed by Chris Sanders, produced by Jeff Hermann, and executive produced by Sanders' longtime collaborative partner Dean DeBlois. It stars Lupita Nyong'o as Roz, the title character, alongside an ensemble voice cast including Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Mark Hamill, and Catherine O'Hara.
For the 2016 book of the same name, see Peter Brown (illustrator).The Wild Robot
Chris Sanders
The Wild Robot
by Peter Brown
Jeff Hermann
Mary Blee
- September 20, 2024
United States
English
DreamWorks announced an animated film adaptation of the book series The Wild Robot in September 2023, with Sanders, Hermann, and DeBlois attached. It will be the final film to be animated entirely in-house at DreamWorks, as it was reported in October 2023 that the studio would be shifting away from producing films in-house to rely more heavily on outside studios after 2024. Kris Bowers will compose the film's score.
The Wild Robot is scheduled to be theatrically released on September 20, 2024.
Additionally, Mark Hamill, Matt Berry and Ving Rhames have been cast in undisclosed roles.[2]
Production[edit]
Development[edit]
On September 28, 2023, DreamWorks Animation announced an animated film adaptation of the book series The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, with Chris Sanders set to write and direct, Jeff Hermann set to produce, and Sanders' longtime creative collaborator Dean DeBlois set to serve as executive producer. Other crew members were revealed, including production designer Raymond Zibach, editor Mary Blee, and head of story Heidi Jo Gilbert.[3]
On March 5, 2024, with the release of the film's first trailer, Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Catherine O'Hara, Bill Nighy, Kit Connor, Stephanie Hsu, Mark Hamill, Matt Berry, and Ving Rhames were announced to be starring in the film.[2][4]
Animation and design[edit]
The Wild Robot will be the final film to be animated entirely in-house at DreamWorks, as Cartoon Brew reported on October 6, 2023 that the studio would be shifting away from producing films in-house in their Glendale campus to rely more heavily on outside studios after 2024.[5]
Music[edit]
Kris Bowers will compose the film's score, marking his first score for an animated film.[6]
Marketing[edit]
The first trailer for the film, featuring a rendition of Reuben and the Dark's cover of "What a Wonderful World", and poster, were released on March 5, 2024.[7] The trailer would debut in theaters three days later in front of the screenings of Kung Fu Panda 4.[8] Writing for Polygon, Tasha Robinson compared the design of Roz to familiar film robots such as BB-8, WALL-E, Baymax, and The Iron Giant, and notes that the only words spoken in the trailer - "Sometimes, to survive, we must become more than we were programmed to be" - evoked the message of The Iron Giant (1999).[9]
Release[edit]
The Wild Robot is scheduled to be released on September 20, 2024.[10]
As part of Universal's deal with Netflix, the film will stream on Peacock for the first four months of the pay-TV window, before moving to Netflix for the next ten, and returning to Peacock for the remaining four.[11][12]