Sony Pictures Animation unveils ‘Spider-Man’, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘Vivo’ and more

The Smurfs: The Lost Village

Sony Pictures Animation announced today their slate of films through to 2018 and beyond, including details on the animated SPIDER-MAN film, a Christmas themed film called STAR and the Lin-Manuel Miranda project VIVO. It’s a great time to be a fan of animation.

The Untitled SPIDER-MAN animated film will pleasingly focus on Miles Morales, who has previously been animated in the Ultimate Spider-Man series. The feature is directed by Bob Persichetti  and Peter Ramsey, and written by Phil Lord. Avi Arad, Amy Pascal, Phil Lord & Christopher Miller are executive producing; Christina Steinberg  is producing. It’s due out in December 2018.

VIVO is light on details, but with The Croods director Kirk De Micco  helming a script by Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegría Hudes, with new songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, Moana), you better believe this will set the Internet ablaze with memes. It has a loose release date of December 2020.

Genndy Tartakovsky will also direct sequel HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3 will be out on 13 September 2018, with the director’s new short PUPPY attached to THE EMOJI MOVIE when it hits cinemas in September.

For already announced titles SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE and THE EMOJI MOVIE, Sony has added some new voice casting details. For the latter, Jennifer Coolidge (Gene’s mother, Mary Meh), Maya Rudolph (Smiler), Jake T. Austin (Alex), and Sir Patrick Stewart (Poop) have joined the cast. That’s right: Sir Patrick Stewart is Poop. Did someone say Oscar buzz? Previously announced voice cast includes T.J. Miller (Gene), James Corden (Hi-5), Ilana Glazer (Jailbreak), Steven Wright (Gene’s father, Mel Meh).

Sony Pictures Animation officially kicked off back in 2006 with Open Season, and has added franchises like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Hotel Transylvania, Arthur Christmas and The Pirates! Band of Misfits since.