Animation studio Laika has revealed that its fifth film is Missing Link, which will see Hugh Jackman as an English gent in search of Zach Galifianakis’s mysterious, mythical beast.
The studio, best known for Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, unveiled its new movie ahead of meetings at the Cannes Film Festival. Annapurna will handle distribution in the USA, marking a change from previous Laika films, which have been distributed by Universal via its Focus Features label.
SEE ALSO: Exclusive Interview – Director Travis Knight talks Kubo and the Two Strings
Missing Link, written and directed by Chris Butler (ParaNorman), sees Jackman play monster investigator Sir Lionel Frost. He travels to the Pacific Northwest in search of the eponymous creature – a remnant of mankind’s primitive ancestry.
Mr Link (Galifianakis) turns out to be a lonely creature desperate to meet others of his kind in the fabled location of Shangri-La. Link, Frost and adventurer Adelina Fortnight (Zoe Saldana) join forces on a quest to find their destination.
The rest of the voice cast includes the likes of Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Timothy Olyphant, Amrita Acharia and Ching Valdes-Aran.
SEE ALSO: Read our ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ review of Kubo and the Two Strings
Laika President and CEO Travis Knight said Missing Link is “a raucous comedy entwined with a swashbuckling epic, underscoring the universal need to find belonging”.
The film represents an upswing in scale for Laika, with 110 sets constructed over 65 unique locations to create a huge adventure movie.
Annapurna has set a Spring 2019 release date for Missing Link, with international dates yet to be announced.