EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros is shifting Legendary‘s live-action animated hybrid, Animal Friends, to Jan. 22, 2027. We understand that the reason for this latest release date change is because the film’s talent which includes Ryan Reynolds, Jason Momoa, Aubrey Plaza, Dan Levy, Lil Rel Howery, Addison Rae, Ellie Bamber and more will be available to do press then.
The Peter Atencio directed movie which was written by Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider jumped from Sony to Warner Bros after Legendary’s deal at the Culver City lot ceased. There’s been a slew of release dates for this pic including Aug. 15, 2025, Oct. 10, 2025, May 1, 2026 and then June 5, 2026. Warners already had Jan. 22 next year on hold for a title. Animal Friends is the only major studio title versus Bleecker Street’s The Third Parent and Cineverse’s Air Bud Returns.
Logline for Animal Friends: Two fugitive animals embark on an adventure across America to find the ranch that was once their home, healing their friendship while pursued by an equally “odd-couple” DEA agent and Fish and Wildlife ranger with something to prove.
Producers are Legendary, Maximum Effort and Prime Focus Studios.
There’s still plenty of movies on June 5: Amazon MGM Studios’ Masters of the Universe, Lionsgate’s Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd Power Ballad and Paramount/Miramax’s Scary Movie.
R-rated animated movies are rare, and it’s been a while since we had one; the first one that comes to mind is 1999’s South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut which hit theaters during its heyday on TV, the pic grossing $52M domestic, and over $83M at the global box office.
