DreamWorks Animation has announced its latest addition to the cast of Trolls, enlisting singer-cum-actor Justin Timberlake for the role of Branch.
Starring opposite Pitch Perfect alum Anna Kendrick, Timberlake’s character has been described as a “hilariously hardcore survivalist” with much more personality brimming beneath his steely shell.
Shrek Forever After‘s Mike Mitchell is on point to direct this one, lifting inspiration from the Dam Things doll that crammed up every bedroom 60s and early 90s. Utilizing the license of a popular doll brand may border on absurdity on paper, though it’d be unfair to dismiss Mitchell’s Trolls film off the bat what with adaptations of Angry Birds and Hello Kitty all in the works too.
As for the actual story attached to DreamWorks’ feature, Kendrick’s Princess Poppy will buddy up with Timberlake’s bite-sized gnome for an adventure that will see the pair venture into an unknown world beyond their own. An archetypal arc, of course, though the studio has hinted of musical mash-ups littered throughout the course of their inspiring journey, in a move that is almost tailored to the younger demographic by design. But Mitchell’s Trolls will need much more than a few catchy tunes if it really is to prove its doubters wrong come next year.
Trolls will be released on November 4, 2016. 20th Century Fox is in charge of distribution.
Directed by Mike Mitchell (Shrek Forever After), co-directed by Walt Dohrn (Shrek Forever After) and produced by Gina Shay (Shrek Forever After), the film for the first time tells the story behind the beloved Trolls and their gravity defying and colorful manes. Setting out on an epic adventure that takes Poppy and Branch far beyond the only world they have ever known, their quest will test their strength and reveal their true colors – with no shortage of musical mash-ups along the way!
