Sony Animation is pulling out all the stops to boost its output for 2017 and 2018, and the result is some fairly wide-ranging news regarding both the television and film side of the operation. With its animated Spider-Man feature already moving full-speed ahead – with Phil Lord and Chris Miller on board – and television series of both Ghostbusters and Cloudy With a Chance Of Meatballs in development, the biggest titles currently under discussion are Hotel Transylvania 3, that film’s overall franchise, and EmojiMovie: Express Yourself.
The Hotel Transylvania franchise:
Recently, Sony announced that the director of the first two instalments of the highly successful franchise – Genndy Tartakovsky – had opted not to return for the third movie. This was widely acknowledged to be the result of his return to the Samurai Jack fold, since he was that show’s creator, and he just headed up a brand new season. However, having performed a rather nifty about-face, the director has confirmed that he will, in fact, direct Hotel Transylvania 3, having replenished his creative energies while spending time with his samurai warrior creation.
But, that’s not the only news coming from the Hotel Transylvania camp. In addition, Sony has confirmed plans for an animated TV series based on the story. The show will focus on the teenage years of Mavis (voiced by Selena Gomez in the films), and will air on Disney Channels in 2017.
EmojiMovie: Express Yourself:
Plot details remain a tightly guarded secret, but Sony has now confirmed the official title of the film – EmojiMovie: Express Yourself – and a new banner has been released, presumably for marketing awareness purposes.
Directed by Anthony Leondis (2008’s Igor), with a screenplay by the director, and Eric Siegel (Men At Work, The Hard Times Of RJ Berger), EmojiMovie: Express Yourself is scheduled for release in August 2017.