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EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros is shifting the release date for Legendary‘s live-action animated hybrid comedy Animal Friends to January 22, 2027. We understand that the reason for this latest date change is because the film’s talent — including Ryan Reynolds, Jason Momoa, Aubrey Plaza, Dan Levy, Lil Rel Howery, Addison Rae and Ellie Bamber — more will be available to do press then.
The Peter Atencio-directed movie, which was written by Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider, jumped from Sony to Warner Bros after Legendary’s deal at the Culver City lot ceased. There’s been a slew of release dates for this pic including August 15, 2025, October 10, 2025, May 1, 2026, and most recently June 5, 2026.
Warners already had January 22 next year on hold for a title. Animal Friends is the only major studio title on that date so far, joining Bleecker Street’s The Third Parent and Cineverse’s Air Bud Returns.
Logline for Animal Friends: Two fugitive animals embark on an adventure across America to find the ranch that was once their home, healing their friendship while pursued by an equally “odd-couple” DEA agent and Fish and Wildlife ranger with something to prove.
Producers are Legendary, Maximum Effort and Prime Focus Studios.
There’s still plenty of movies on June 5: Amazon MGM Studios’ Masters of the Universe, Lionsgate’s Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd pic Power Ballad, and Paramount/Miramax’s Scary Movie.
R-rated animated movies are rare, and it’s been awhile since we had one; the first ones that come to mind are August 2016’s Sausage Party, which grossed $97.7 million domestic and $140.7M worldwide, and June 1999’s South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, which hit theaters during its heyday on TV and grossed $52M U.S. and $83M-plus globally.