"Madagascar" Multiplies
DreamWorks has a bad case of jungle fever.
After grossing more than $500 million worldwide to become the studio's most successful original movie to date, Madagascar's zoo crew is officially sequel-bound.
DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg announced plans Wednesday for a follow-up to the summer computer-animated smash about four animals who escape their cushy lives in a zoo to search for a missing friend, only to find themselves en route to the wilds of Africa with a bunch of psycho penguins.
"As a result of its tremendous box-office success, the potential to tell a new chapter in its story and the popularity of the film's characters, we are excited to announce that we are making Madagascar our second company franchise--along with Shrek," Katzenberg said.
The studio hopes Madagascar mimics the ogre's success. The critter 'toon, which opened in theaters May 27, has tallied $192 million domestically and just hit the $500 million mark in worldwide receipts. The original Shrek grossed slightly more domestically ($268 million) and less worldwide ($484 million); last year's sequel was even bigger, with $441 million domestically and $920 million worldwide. Shrek 3 is on the drawing board for a 2007 release and Shrek 4 is already green-lit.
Katzenberg also announced that the film's A-list cast would be back for the second go-round, including Ben Stiller (Alex the lion), Chris Rock (Marty the zebra) and Jada Pinkett Smith (Gloria the hippo).
Codirectors Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath and producer Mireille Soria are also back on board.
The scene-stealing band of penguins will make a repeat appearance, too, but only after taking top billing in two films of their own.
They will star in a 10-minute short that will run before DreamWorks' next animated feature, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, opening Oct. 7.
The enterprising birds are also set to star in their own direct-to-video release, due out in 2009.
Madagascar 2 is slated to hit theaters in 2008.
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