Yes, Virginia, The Croods are happening.
DreamWorks Animation has added the caveman comedy - part of the fallout from DWA's 2006 divorce from Aardman Animation - to its 2013 schedule. Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon) and Kirk De Micco (Space Chimps) are not only directing the film but also reworking the script, which was originally titled Crood Awakening. It was developed by comedy legend and Monty Python alumnus John Cleese.
Chris Sanders, Kirk De Micco Direct DreamWorks Animation's The Croods, Starring Nicolas Cage
Here's the synopsis according to DWA: "Surviving in a volcanic world is tough enough, but caveman Grug (voiced by Nicolas Cage) gets a rude awakening when an earthquake forces him to leave behind the only world he knows. With his family in tow, he ventures out into the volatile world in search of a new home.
"The situation becomes even more complicated when Grug's family - in particular his eldest daughter Eep (Emma Stone) - falls for a nomad (Ryan Reynolds) they encounter on their dangerous journey. This quirky, imaginative stranger's search for 'tomorrow' is at odds with Grug's reliance on the traditions of yesterday."
Catherine Keener (The 40 Year Old Virgin) will voice the role of Ugga, Grug's wife. Cloris Leachman ("Blücher!") is likely playing the crazy grandmother while Clark Duke (Robot Chicken) voices another as-yet-unnamed role.
So far, this movie has a mixed feel. Sanders - who joined DWA after getting turfed from Disney's Bolt - turned How to Train Your Dragon into the studio's best film to date. On the other hand, Kirk De Micco has the dreadful Space Chimps on his resume. That said, DWA has raised the quality of their most recent films by bringing in Guillermo del Toro as a story consultant. Here's hoping he can work his magic on this movie.
This film will be the first of a trio of animated feature films coming from DreamWorks Animation in 2013. First time director David Soren will direct Marvin Duerkholz, Li'l Mizerkk and Ryan Reynolds (again) in Turbo, which follows a snail suddenly endowed with super speed. Tha movie rolls into theatres on June 7th. Another first-time director, Alessandro Carloni, will helm DWA's third film of 2013: Me and My Shadow. It stars Kate Hudson (Bride Wars), Bill Hader (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs) and Josh Gad, and bows on November 8th.
The Croods rumble into theatres on March 22, 2013.
Dominic von Riedemann - Dominic is the Animated Film Feature Writer, and winner of 11 Suite 101 Editors' Choice Awards.
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