Well, this is quite the nice surprise as Illumination and Universal Pictures are teaming for a new original animated film called “Not Alone,” which has enlisted high-profile talent to lend their voices for it, with Selena Gomez (“Only Murders In The Building”) and Timothée Chalamet (“Dune: Part Three”) in key roles. The project was first announced at the Annecy Film Festival in France (via Deadline), and we have some insight into the characters they’ll be playing in the pic that is heading to theaters on April 16, 2027. Chamalet’s Joe is said to be “an introverted rocket mechanic who lives a quiet life alone,” while Gomez is “Fran, a brilliant astro-botanist who is developing the world’s first-ever plant-fueled rocket.”
This new flick, “Not Alone,” is co-directed by Eric Guillon (co-director of “Despicable Me 3“), Claire Dodgson (editor of “The Lorax,” “Minions,” “Despicable Me 3,” :Minions: The Rise of Gru”), and Jonathan Del Val (co-director of “Minions: The Rise of Gru” and “The Secret Life of Pets 2”).
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An official synopsis for the animated genre flick:
“When Joe (Chalamet) and Fran (Gomez) are brought together to prepare for the inaugural launch of this revolutionary rocket, there are immediate sparks, but neither is particularly adept at romance. Life becomes more complicated when three aliens—tiny, unruly, and adorable—take refuge in Joe’s home. Dunk, Welly, and Shirm are on the interplanetary run from a zealous yet inept officer of the law named Zandro. The aliens determine that Fran’s rocket could provide their means of getting back home to safety.”
Others among the voice cast include Rob Brydon, Diane Morgan, Jamie Demetriou, Brett Goldstein, Allison Janney, and Lamorne Morris. Gomez, of course, is no stranger to animated projects, having been part of Genndy Tartakovsky and Sony Animation‘s popular “Hotel Transylvania” films, playing Dracula‘s (voiced by Adam Sandler) daughter. However, this will mark the first full-length feature film debut for Chalamet, who had previously played a young Willy Wonka for Paul King‘s “Wonka” and isn’t completely new to the world of family-friendly projects.
This could explain the slew of release dates that Universal had etched out for a heap of Illumination films, which we had assumed could have a connection to possible “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” franchise spin-offs like “Donkey Kong” and “Star Fox,” given the tee-up for their own movies being a good bet to make. We have to imagine that Universal will start to share more information alongside first-look images and footage in the coming months, as San Diego Comic-Con feels like a great space to promote the new animated genre movie.
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
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- Christopher Marc
