A host of new characters and actors board the sequel to Illumination’s 2016 hit animated musical comedy sequel, ‘Sing,’ set for a December 22, 2021 theatrical release.
This past April, in response to production delays brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Universal pushed the release dates of both Illumination’s big upcoming sequels: Minions: The Rise of Gru took Sing 2’s previously scheduled July 2, 2021 date, with Sing 2 moving to December 22, 2021, the former release date of Wicked, which moved completely off the schedule.
Sing, written and directed by Garth Jennings, generated more than $634 million worldwide when it was released in 2016. Jennings returns for the sequel, as do Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey, Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Hudson, Nick Kroll, Taron Egerton, and Tori Kelly. The film is produced by Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy.
In Sing 2, can-do koala Buster Moon and his all-star cast of animal performers prepare to launch their most dazzling stage extravaganza yet… in the glittering entertainment capital of the world. There’s just one hitch: they first must to persuade the world’s most reclusive rock star—played by legendary music icon Bono, making his animated film debut—to join them. Buster (McConaughey) and his cast have turned the New Moon Theater into a local hit, but Buster has his eyes on a bigger prize: debuting a new show at the Crystal Tower Theater in glamorous Redshore City.
But with no connections, Buster and his cast—including harried mother pig Rosita (Witherspoon), rocker porcupine Ash (Johansson), earnest gorilla Johnny (Egerton), shy elephant Meena (Kelly) and, of course, porcine provocateur extraordinaire Gunter (Kroll)—have to sneak their way into the world-famous Crystal Entertainment offices, run by a ruthless mogul wolf named Jimmy Crystal (Cannavale).
In a desperate attempt to get Mr. Crystal’s attention, Gunter spontaneously pitches an outrageous idea that Buster quickly runs with, promising that their new show will star lion rock legend Clay Calloway (Bono). Problem is, Buster has never met Clay, an artist who shut himself away from the world more than a decade ago after the loss of his wife and hasn’t been seen since.
As Gunter helps Buster dream up an out-of-this-world theatrical masterpiece, and the pressure (and sinister threats) from Mr. Crystal mount, Buster embarks on a quest to find Clay and persuade him to return to the stage. What begins as Buster’s dream of big-time success becomes an emotional reminder of the power of music to heal even the most broken heart.
Source: NBCUniversal
Dan Sarto(link sends e-mail) is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
