DreamWorks announces sequel to 'Madagascar'

Posted Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 3:37 PM Central

by Tim Briscoe

DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg (a.k.a. The "K" in DreamWorks SKG) announced that his company will be making a sequel to this year's computer-animated hit Madagascar.

Katzenberg added that Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and Jada Pinkett Smith would be returning to voice the sequel. No word on the return of other voice actors such as David Schwimmer, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Cedric The Entertainer. He said he was looking forward to other original cast members returning to their roles for the sequel. DreamWorks hopes to have Madagascar 2 ready for release in 2008. Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath will be co-directors once again.

In addition to the sequel, DreamWorks plans a spin-off film for the scheming penguins from Madagascar. The Penguin movie is expected for a direct-to-video release in 2009. The penguins characters also have a 10-minute short film appearing with Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit which opens in theaters Oct. 7.

Madagascar is the company's most successful original movie ever (meaning not adapted from a previous story like Shrek) with a $129 million domestic box office gross. The film is set for a Nov. 15 DVD release.