DreamWorks Animation honcho Jeffrey Katzenberg told us that his company was ploughing ahead on more sequels to its most popular ‘toons, and now one of those films – Madagascar 3 – has scored Frances McDormand to make her animation debut as the villain.
The third outing finds lion Alex (Ben Stiller), zebra Marty (Chris Rock), giraffe Melman (David Schwimmer) and hippo Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) hatching their latest plan to get back to New York by joining up with a travelling circus.
But they’ll face even more complications than usual, as McDormand’s animal control officer is out to capture them.
Regular series co-director and co-writer Eric Darnell is stepping up to handle directing chores on his own for this one, which boasts a script by Noah Baumbach. And according to the Heat Vision blog, we’ll be introduced to a host of new animals, including a Russian tiger, an Italian sea lion and a South American Jaguar. Plus, we expect they’ll find a way to crowbar in Sacha Baron Cohen’s madcap Lemur, King Julien, and the penguins will naturally show up to help.
Madagascar 3 (no word on what the subtitle might be yet) is scheduled to arrive on June 1, 2012.