Madagascar 2 Gets Extended IMAX Run
DreamWorks Animation Film Stars Ben Stiller, Jada Pinkett-Smith
Sep 9, 2008
IMAX is obviously loving DreamWorks Animation's next CGI flick, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.
In fact, they're so enamoured with the continuing adventures of Alex the Lion (Ben Stiller), Melman the Giraffe (David Schwimmer), Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock) and Gloria the Hippo (Jada Pinkett-Smith) that the mega-screen company has decided to extend the movie's run in their theatres until well into December.
That run also includes appearance in IMAX's new Digital theatres, which made their debut this past summer. The theatrcial run will also extend into the highly-lucrative Christmas season, which means IMAX thinks that this flick will be the top movie of the holidays.
IMAX Goes Long With Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
The sequel to the 2005 hit Madagascar, Escape 2 Africa features the aforementioned characters, plus King Julien (Sacha Baron Cohen), Maurice (Cedric the Entertainer) and the paramilitary penguins, fixing a plane so that they can all fly back to New York. However, due to some no-doubt hilarious hijinks, they end up crash-landing on the plains of Africa. There, Alex encounters his dad Zuba (Bernie Mac), plus a whole host of new friends and nemeses.
Mireille Soria and Mark Swift are producing the flick, which is co-directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath.
"Madagascar was a huge hit with moviegoers, and we are pleased to extend the run time of this highly anticipated sequel in IMAX theatres into the Thanksgiving and holiday season," said Greg Foster, chairman and president of IMAX Filmed Entertainment, in the official press release. "DreamWorks Animation is a great studio partner for IMAX, and we look forward to releasing the second film in our five-film agreement in November."
DreamWorks and IMAX's previous pairing was on Kung Fu Panda, which hit IMAX theatres on June 6th. To say that flick did well for both DreamWorks and IMAX is an understatement: the flick made an impressive $611,503,911 worldwide, the biggest haul for a non-Shrek DreamWorks title yet. Naturally, DreamWorks Animation is already gearing up for a sequel to the Jack Black film.
DreamWorks Animation's first three 3-D titles, Monsters vs. Aliens (released March 27, 2009), How To Train Your Dragon (March 26, 2010) and Shrek Goes Fourth (May 21, 2010) will also get the IMAX treatment when they come out on the days shown above.
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa will hit regular and IMAX theatres on November 7th.
Fun Fact: Jada Pinkett-Smith beat out the likes of Madonna, Gwen Stefani and Jennifer Lopez for the role of Gloria the Hippo in Madagascar.
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