Missing Link (2019)

[esteban²]

Laika’s Fifth Film Will Be Directed By ‘Paranorman’ Helmer Chris Butler.

It’s been nearly two years since Portland, Oregon-based Laika has made an announcement about what the studio is doing, but the company finally announced today that it is in production on a fifth feature.

The still-untitled film is being directed by Chris Butler, who wrote and directed the studio’s 2012 release Paranorman. The voice cast is led by Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, and Zach Galifianakis.

Details about the plot haven’t been revealed, though Laika describes it as a “globetrotting comedy-adventure” that is “bursting with humor, heart, and a profound message of acceptance and finding one’s place.”

“Our next film represents an evolutionary shift for Laika, said Laika president and CEO Travis Knight. “It’s an exciting bridge to our future. Director Chris Butler and the wizards at Laika have crafted a moving work of art, layered with wit and imagination and soul. Plus it’s really, really funny.”

Notably, for this new film, Laika won’t be partnering with distributor Focus Features, which had released the first four Laika features. The companies had a three-picture distribution deal starting with Kubo and the Two Strings, and it remains unclear if the deal has been scrapped or what will happen with the two remaining films left on that deal.

The new distributor is Annapurna Pictures, the company founded by Megan Ellison, whose father, Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, has a net worth of $59 billion and currently ranks as the tenth-richest person in the world. It’s a fitting match for Laika: Travis Knight’s father is Nike co-founder Phil Knight, net worth $30 billion, and the 28th-richest person in the world.

The only animated feature that Annapurna has previously released is the R-rated Sausage Party, which grossed $140.7 million worldwide on a budget of around $20 million. The studio’s other notables include Detroit, Phantom Thread, American Hustle, Her, Zero Dark Thirty and Spring Breakers.

In addition to Butler’s work on Paranorman, he also has a screenwriting credit on Kubo and the Two Strings. He worked as a storyboard artist on Mr. Bean: The Animated Series, Corpse Bride, Tarzan 2, and The Tale of Despereaux, before joining Laika to become storyboard supervisor on Coraline.

[cinemaphile]

After the wonderful Paranorman and Kubo, anything from Laika, I am in. Too bad it takes them SO long between films. They need to have more than one at a time in the works.

[Mandalorian]

They're too niche to be able to juggle projects, so I don't mind the wait, but I agree that I'm there for anything they do. Love their work.

[esteban²]

As a big fan of the studio, I wonder how they keep doing it ...

Coraline made $124 million (budget $60 M)
ParaNorman made $107 million (budget $60 M)
The BoxTrolls made $109 million (budget $60 M)
Kubo and the Two Strings made $69 million (budget $60 M)

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

Too bad it takes them SO long between films.

Really?

-Coraline: 2009

-ParaNorman: 2012

-The Boxtrolls: 2014

-Kubo & The Two Strings: 2016

The longest gap between Laika movies is all of three years. For the level of complexity required by the animation process, an average of only two years between movies is nothing less than remarkable. Hell, it takes longer than that for a new Despicable Me or Ice Age sequel to come out.

Anyways, for me, Laika is the new Pixar, and I will see ANYTHING they put out.

[The Debts]

Kubo made me weep like a goddamn *****, so I'm game for anything these guys do. And now that they've partnered up with Megan Ellison's company, the sky is the limit.

[Mr.F]

Originally Posted by esteban²

As a big fan of the studio, I wonder how they keep doing it ...

Coraline made $124 million (budget $60 M)
ParaNorman made $107 million (budget $60 M)
The BoxTrolls made $109 million (budget $60 M)
Kubo and the Two Strings made $69 million (budget $60 M)

Though I bet they are in desperate need of at least a Coraline-level hit. Maybe that's why Travis Knight is doing Bumblebee: to have a hit and be in Hollywood's good graces for a while.

[Rixx]

Originally Posted by esteban²

As a big fan of the studio, I wonder how they keep doing it ...

Coraline made $124 million (budget $60 M)
ParaNorman made $107 million (budget $60 M)
The BoxTrolls made $109 million (budget $60 M)
Kubo and the Two Strings made $69 million (budget $60 M)

Probably something to do with Laika being owned by Phil Knight the 28th richest person in the world and father of Travis Knight the President and CEO of Laika.

Hopefully this film will have a great box office.

[esteban²]

One can hope. I sure do.

[The Debts]

[Cannes, France; May 8, 2018] – LAIKA, the animation studio behind the Academy Award® nominated Kubo and the Two Strings, The Boxtrolls, ParaNorman, and Coraline, announces its fifth and most ambitious film to date: MISSING LINK. The title, U.S. release date (Spring, 2019) and complete cast details were revealed today by LAIKA President & CEO Travis Knight as he prepares to meet with foreign buyers at the Cannes Film Festival. Missing Link will be distributed in the U.S. by Annapurna Pictures. AGC International, the sales and distribution division of AGC Studios, is handling international sales.

“Missing Link is an artistic and technical wonder,” said Mr. Knight. “Led by our visionary director Chris Butler, LAIKA has once again blended fine art, craftsmanship, and cutting-edge technology to achieve something we’ve never tried before: a raucous comedy entwined with a swashbuckling epic, underscoring the universal need to find belonging. Commingling keenly felt emotion, madcap humor, and retina-bursting visuals, Missing Link is a kaleidoscopic cinematic experience unlike any other. It’s the most striking thing we’ve ever done.”

The charismatic Sir Lionel Frost (voiced by Hugh Jackman) considers himself to be the world’s foremost investigator of myths and monsters. The trouble is none of his small-minded high-society peers seems to recognize this. Sir Lionel’s last chance for acceptance by the adventuring elite rests on traveling to America’s Pacific Northwest to prove the existence of a legendary creature. A living remnant of Man’s primitive ancestry. The Missing Link.

Zach Galifianakis is Mr. Link: the slightly silly, surprisingly smart and soulful beast upon whom Sir Lionel’s dreams depend. As species go, he’s as endangered as they get; he’s the last of his kind, and he’s lonely. Proposing a daring quest to seek out his rumored distant relatives, he enlists Sir Lionel’s help in an odyssey around the world to find the fabled valley of Shangri-La.

Together with Adelina Fortnight (voiced by Zoe Saldana), an independent and resourceful adventurer who possesses the only known map to the group’s secret destination, the unlikely trio embarks on a riotous rollercoaster of a ride. Along the way, our fearless explorers encounter more than their fair share of peril, stalked at every turn by dastardly villains seeking to thwart their mission. Through it all, Mr. Link’s disarming charm and good-humored conviction provide the emotional and comedic foundation of this fun-filled family film.

Source here. They're shooting for a release date some time in Spring 2019.

[Monterey Jack]

I Laika this news.

[Dubstar]

"that-sa nice!!"

[Mandalorian]

Sounds like a blast. Can’t wait.

[esteban²]

As expected, another promising project. Can't wait.

[Darth Marcus]

Source: Deadline

‘Missing Link’: Laika’s Zach Galifianakis-Hugh Jackman-Zoe Saldana Toon Gets Release Date From Annapurna
by Erik Pedersen - June 28, 2018 11:40am

Missing Link has found its release date. Annapurna said today that the Laika toon starring Zach Galifianakis, Hugh Jackman, and Zoe Saldana will hit theaters on April 19.

Written and directed by Chris Butler, the plot follows Mr. Link (Galifianakis), the slightly silly, surprisingly smart and soulful beast who is the last living remnant of Man’s primitive ancestry, the Missing Link. As species go, he couldn’t be more endangered; he’s the last of his kind and he’s lonely. Proposing a daring quest to find his rumored distant relatives, he enlists the help of Sir Lionel Frost (Jackman), the world’s foremost investigator of myths and monsters, and Adelina Fortnight (Saldana), who possesses the only known map to the group’s secret destination, in an odyssey around the world to find the fabled valley of Shangri-La.

Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, Timothy Olyphant, Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Amrita Acharia, and Ching Valdes-Aran also are among the voice talent roster.

Laika’s Arianne Sutner and Travis Knight are producing. AGC International is overlooking international sales while Lionsgate UK will handle distribution in UK and Ireland.

Missing Link, Laika’s fifth animated feature, will open against an untitled horror film from New Line and the Disneynature documentary Penguins.

[CrazyBlu-RayFan]

Official MPAA rating: Rated PG for action/peril and some mild rude humor.

[Himmel]

http://youtu.be/L8uPXwUR7NE

[Creed]

Love me some Laika goodness. Trailer looks like fun! Definitely welcoming to more stop-motion, especially after Isle of Dogs.

[The Debts]

Looks more upbeat than I expected (especially after how sad Kubo got) but never the less looks completely adorable and visually miraculous.

[esteban²]

Yes! Yes, yes yes!