Sony Slates Its Next ‘Smurfs’ Film

Sony Pictures Animation’s Untitled Animated Smurfs project has been scheduled for release March 31, 2017, which means that it will bow during the Easter holiday. The film, which is a new animated take on the tried and true Smurf family, is directed by Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2T) and produced by Jordan Kerner (The Smurfs), and co-produced by Mary Ellen Bauder (Hotel Transylvania). The first Smurfs movie, released in July 2011, ended up making … wait for it … $563.7M worldwide. The ssecond one in Columbia’s franchise, released in 2013, ended up with $347.5M worldwide. Animation tends to travel well overseas. The voice cast for the new animated film is being put together now. There are no other films scheduled for that weekend, however, the following weekend 20th Century Fox is releasing and animated Ferndinad, also geared to kids.

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