The Garfield Movie
| The Garfield Movie | |
|---|---|
 Teaser poster | |
| Directed by | Mark Dindal |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | Garfield by Jim Davis |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Music by | John Debney |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Sony Pictures Releasing |
Release date |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Garfield Movie is an upcoming American animated comedy film based on Jim Davis's comic strip Garfield, produced by Columbia Pictures and Alcon Entertainment (in the latter's first animated film), animated by DNEG Animation, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. Directed by Mark Dindal from a screenplay written by Paul A. Kaplan, Mark Torgove, and David Reynolds, the film stars Chris Pratt as the voice of the titular character, alongside the voices of Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Harvey Guillén, Brett Goldstein, and Bowen Yang.
Development on a new animated Garfield film began in May 2016, with producers and writers already attached. Dindal was announced as the film's director in November 2018, and pre-production began the following month. Despite Viacom acquiring most of the rights to Garfield in August 2019, production proceeded. In November 2021, Sony purchased the distribution rights for the film, and Pratt was cast as Garfield. The rest of the cast joined in 2022. John Debney, a frequent collaborator of Dindal, composed the score.
The Garfield Movie is set to be theatrically released in the United States on May 24, 2024.
Premise
Garfield (voiced by Chris Pratt), the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving indoor cat, is about to have a wild outdoor adventure! After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father – scruffy street cat Vic (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson) – Garfield and his canine friend Odie are forced from their perfectly pampered life into joining Vic in a hilarious, high-stakes heist.
— The Garfield Movie official website
Voice cast
- Chris Pratt as Garfield, a cynical and lazy orange tabby cat who loves lasagna and hates Mondays
- Samuel L. Jackson as Vic, Garfield's estranged father
- Hannah Waddingham
- Ving Rhames
- Nicholas Hoult as Jon Arbuckle, Garfield's owner
- Cecily Strong
- Harvey Guillén as Odie, a dim-witted yellow dog and Garfield's best friend
- Brett Goldstein
- Bowen Yang
Production
In May 2016, seven years after 20th Century Fox's license with Paws, Inc. still continues, it was announced that Alcon Entertainment would develop a new CG animated Garfield film, with John Cohen and Steven P. Wegner producing, from a script by Mark Torgove and Paul A. Kaplan. Mark Dindal was announced as director in November 2018, with pre-production beginning the following month. In August 2019, Viacom (now known as Paramount Global) acquired most of the rights to Garfield, leaving the status of the film at the time uncertain. However, in December 2020, Dindal confirmed that the film was still in production.
In November 2021, Chris Pratt was announced to play the role of Garfield, with animation provided by DNEG Animation, while Sony Pictures will maintain global distribution rights for the film under its Columbia Pictures label, except for China. It was also announced that David Reynolds will write the script, reuniting with Dindal after having previously worked together on the Walt Disney Animation Studios films The Emperor's New Groove (2000) and Chicken Little (2005).
In May 2022, it was reported that Samuel L. Jackson joined the film as Garfield's father, Vic. In August 2022, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Hannah Waddingham and Cecily Strong were added to the cast. In November 2022, Brett Goldstein and Bowen Yang were added to the cast. By September 2023, it was reported that the film would be entitled The Garfield Movie. Hoult was later confirmed to voice Jon Arbuckle in December 2023.
Music
In November 2023, it was reported that John Debney would compose the film's score, marking his third collaboration with Dindal following The Emperor's New Groove and Chicken Little.
Release
The Garfield Movie is scheduled for theatrical release in the United States on May 24, 2024. It was previously scheduled for release on February 16, 2024.
In April 2021, Sony signed deals with Netflix and Disney for the rights to their 2022 to 2026 film slate, following the films' theatrical and home media windows. Netflix signed for exclusive "pay 1 window" streaming rights, which is typically an 18-month window and included The Garfield Movie. Disney signed for "pay 2 window" rights for the films, which would be streamed on Disney+ and Hulu as well as broadcast on Disney's linear television networks.
Video game
A video game based on the film is set to be released in 2024.