Illumination CEO Reveals Upcoming Projects, Including SHREK 5 and SING 3
By Movieguide® Contributor
Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri recently revealed what’s next for the animation studio, including another SHREK movie and a SING sequel.
The internet quickly went wild over the idea of a SHREK 5, but Meledandri stressed that the idea is still in early development.
“We anticipate the [original] cast coming back,” he explained. “Talks are starting now, and every indication that we’ve gotten is there’s tremendous enthusiasm on behalf of the actors to return.”
Part of the reason the original cast is eager to return to the franchise was the massive success of SHREK spin-off PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH. The movie made millions at the box office and audiences loved its family-friendly message.
A portion of Movieguide®’s review of Movieguide® Award Nominated movie, THE LAST WISH, reads:
Funny and exciting, PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH is well made, with interesting animation. The movie has a strong Christian, moral worldview where Puss in Boots must learn to be less selfish and egotistical, think of others above himself and realize he’s not invincible. Another character realizes the value of loving her family. THE LAST WISH also has a priest character and a reference to church. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for younger children, because the Angel of Death and some other characters are scary
Meledandri also revealed that there’s a script for a third SECRET LIFE OF PETS movie in the works, as well as another SING movie. Both movies will involve characters from the first movies, but will introduce new ones and take them into “a new world.”
“We don’t just look at box office,” he continued, referring to the decision to make another SING movie. “We gauge the audience response in different ways. The streaming success of SING 2 signals that fans want to stay in this world with these characters.”
Movieguide® also reported on why SING 2 was so successful with audiences:
Movieguide® found that movies that focused on hope, family, and positive moral themes during the box office struggles in the worldwide pandemic performed best.
In 2020, the family-friendly movie THE CROODS: A NEW AGE sparked box office ticket sales when highly-anticipated movies like TENET had lackluster performances.
Now, another animated sequel looks to capture families’ eyes, ears, and hearts, SING 2.
Actor Matthew McConaughey, who plays Buster Moon, said that while some sequels struggle compared to the first, SING 2 maintains the charm of SING while upping the stakes.
“The stakes were bigger,” McConaughey said in a recent press conference. “Any time you have sequels, live-action or animated, it’s good news because that means it first of all worked on some level, right? But then what happens in [some] sequels that don’t necessarily succeed? You try to pump everything that worked in the first one up on steroids and just re-cook the souffle and the story lacks.”
However, McConaughey noted that director Garth Jennings delivered the heart on a bigger stage.
“It also elevates your bad guys. Now got a wolf. If I don’t, if I don’t put the show on this time. It’s not like my feelings are gonna be hurt. I’m dead,” McConaughey joked. “The show must go on. This question came up yesterday in the press junket. Someone said ‘What about Buster’s love story? He doesn’t have a significant other.’ I go, ‘Yes he does; to put the show on. To pull it off.’ If he leaves his life without another Koala with him but keeps pulling off the shows he’ll be dying a happy Koala.”
Along with the standard storytelling elements, the music of SING and SING 2 set the animated movies apart.
Christian music artist Tori Kelly, who plays a shy but talented Elephant named Meena, said that SING 2 does not compromise on the quality of the music because it is aimed at a younger audience.
“They have this incredible vision already and it’s such an honor to just kind of step into that,” Kelly said. “Harvey Mason, the amazing person who did all the music for the films, we put a lot of trust in Him as well. He pulls out such great performances, I think. I’m hitting notes that I’ve never hit, and he just really stretches me. So that part of it was really fun. But yeah, just I get to sing these huge songs amd it’s such an honor.”
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