Looks like DreamWorks is pulling out all the stops to overcome the lackluster response to its recently released sequel to ‘How To Train Your Dragon’. After launching its YouTube channel – DreamWorksTV – it has very strategically released the trailers to its next two big releases simultaneously on the online video behemoth.
The two trailers in question are: The Penguins of Madagascar and Home. The first being a spin-off of one of DreamWork’s tentpoles – Madagascar – and the other focusing on human interaction with an alien from outer space.
The studio is betting big on The Penguins of Madagascar, as it feels that it was the right time to really let the penguins work their magic in a big solo venture after having already tested waters with them on smaller webisodes and TV shorts.
The Penguins of Madagascar will be a 3D action comedy film, produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by 20th Century Fox. The spin-off will follow the penguins – Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private – in their own spy thriller. The project is helmed by Simon J. Smith and Eric Darnell, with Michael Colton and John Aboud on board as the scribes.
With Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, John DiMaggio, Christopher Knights being cast as the voices of the penguins, the feature also boasts of having Benedict Cumberbatch, Ken Jeong and John Malkovich as part of the voice cast.
Debuting in an animation film, ‘Sherlock’ actor Benedict Cumberbatch will take the role of Classified, a dashing-looking wolf with a serious set of eyebrows. He plays a secret agent who heads a covert animal-protection organisation called North Wind.
Home is a feature film directed by Tim Johnson and based on the children’s book ‘The True Meaning of Smekday’. Jim Parsons as ‘Oh’ seems fun enough and Rihanna adds some starpower as ‘Tip’, but going by the trailer we can easily say that voice acting should be left to professionals.
With so much riding on both these films, DreamWorks has its work cut out to really pull in the audience and ensure firstly The Penguins of Madagascar – that’s releasing on 26 November, 2014 – does well at the box-office and then try and replicate that success with Home releasing on 27 March, 2015.