Following in the tracks of The Polar Express, Robots–Chris Wedge’s much anticipated CG follow-up to Ice Age–will be attacking both Imax and regular theaters on March 11 next year. This is the first time Imax has been offering a day-and-date release during the first quarter of the year, according to Daily Variety.
Fox’s domestic distribution head Bruce Snyder has noted that the CGI effects in the feature make it an ideal project for Imax’s immersive format. Fox is hoping to repeat the box-office success of Wedge’s Ice Age with this blue-ribbon spring release. Co-directed by Carlos Saldanha, (Ice Age, Gone Nutty), the movie centers on a good-hearted robot called Rodney Copperbottom (voiced by Ewan McGregor) who battles corporate baddie Big Weld (Mel Brooks) while being seduced by femme-bot Cappy (Halle Berry). Greg Kinnear, Drew Carey, Jim Broadbent, Amanda Bynes and Robin Williams also lend their voices to the film.
In addition to the Oscar-winning Wedge, the film has an amazing pedigree. It is based on a book by William Joyce (Rolie, Polie, Olie; George Shrinks; A Bug’s Life) and animated by Blue Sky Studios, which became a fully owned unit of Fox Filmed Entertainment in 1997. Joyce also serves as exec producer and production designer for the project. Robots was written by the ace comedy team of Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel (Splash, Parenthood, City Slickers). To catch the stunning trailer for the movie, visit www.robotsmovie.com.
