'Missing Link': Release date, plot, cast, trailer, news and everything else about Laika's biggest project ever
Stop-motion animation studio Laika has a little surprise for fans who were completely awestruck by the brilliance of the 2016 Academy Award-nominated film 'Kubo and the Two Strings'. Picking up the legends about the Yeti and Big Foot, Laika is putting together a stellar cast this spring to tell the story of 'Missing Link'. The studio, which along with 'Kubo and the Two Strings', have some spectacular movies to its name such as 'The Boxtrolls', 'Paranorman', and 'Coraline', announced on Monday at the Cannes Film Festival that 'Missing Link' would be the studio’s fifth, and biggest, project to date.
With the movie set to premiere this April, here's everything that you need to know about the upcoming animated film:
Release Date:
The star-studded animated film about Yeti's missing cousin will premiere in the United States on April 12, 2019, by United Artists Releasing, making it the first Laika film to not be distributed by Focus Features.
Plot:
Although 'Missing Link' puts together a legend and a reality on an investigative mission, at the bottom of it, it is a lot about deceptive appearances. Mr. Link, an 8 feet tall, 630 lbs giant covered in fur, is perhaps the most lovable creature who likes to go by the name Susan. After leading a life of utter boredom in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Link recruits the greatest adventurer of all time, Sir Lionel Frost, to guide him on a journey to find his long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La — the cousins whom we know as the Yetis. They are soon joined by the bold Adelina Fortnight, and the trio embarks on a journey that takes them to every nook and corner of the world.
Cast:
The cast includes some of the most renowned names of the industry. Hugh Jackman stars as Sir Lionel Frost, a myths and monsters investigator. The actor who is best known for playing the character Wolverine in the 'X-Men' franchise, had earlier lend his voice to some pretty well-known animated characters such as Bunny in 'Rise of the Guardians', Memphis in 'Happy Feet', and Roddy St. James in 'Flushed Away'. Along with Jackman, Zoe Saldana will lend her voice to Adelina Fortnight, a free-spirit adventurer. Saldana is best known for bringing to life the characters of Neytiri in 'Avatar' and Maria in 'The Book of Life'.
The cast also includes Stephen Fry as Lord Piggot-Dunceby, Sir Lionel's rival, Emma Thompson as the Yeti Elder, Zach Galifianakis as Mr. Link/Susan, a Bigfoot searching for his relatives, and Timothy Olyphant as Willard Stenk, a bounty hunter.
Jackman, Saldana and director Chris Butler got a little candid with MEA WorldWide (MEAWW) about their characters on 'Missing Link' at the Red Carpet event recently. Watch the video below:
Director:
If the movie comes from Laika, it has to be Chris Butler to helm the story together. The director already has his name associated with some of Laika's iconic movies, such as 'Coraline', 'Kubo and the Two Strings', and 'Paranorman', some of which he had both written and directed. He was also the storyboard artist for the 2002-2004 animation classic, 'Mr. Bean: The Animated Series'.
News: Laika's fifth-biggest crown, 'Missing Link'
With some extraordinary animated films attached to its name, Laika president-CEO Travis Knight described 'Missing Link' as achieving "something we’ve never tried before: a raucous comedy entwined with a swashbuckling epic, underscoring the universal need to find belonging." Created with 110 sets and 65 unique locations, producer Arianne Sutner claimed, "It’s only now with our fifth film that as a team we have the experience, the know-how and the collaborative confidence to even attempt a movie of this size and scope."
Trailers:
There are quite a number of clips and two trailers already released by Laika. The first trailer introduced us to the missing link between humanity and beast, a creature who is not entirely evolved into a man but retains all the qualities while bearing the appearance of a beast. As Frost seeks to find this creature, it seems fate has other plans since Frost himself is in turn discovered by Mr. Link.
The second trailer introduces us to the lovable giant who likes to go by the name Susan but is often addressed as Mr. Link due to Frost's theory that this creature is the missing link between humanity and beast. The second trailer throws more light into the story as we are told that Susan actually wants to find his missing cousins the Yetis, and on the other hand, we also get to know Adelina who joins the team making one more adorable onscreen trio.
Mr. Link is quite a literal being in spite of his beastly appearance, and the clip below will prove that as he literally flings the rope right over the wall.
If you liked this, you'll love these:
Since the movie actually comes from Laika, it might be a good idea to check out 'Coraline', the 2016 stop motion animated dark fantasy about a girl who discovers an almost idealized parallel world behind a secret door in her new home, unaware that the alternative world contains a dark and sinister secret. Similarly, 'Kubo and the Two Strings' follows the story of a young boy whose left eye is stolen when he is just a kid. Accompanied by an anthropomorphic snow monkey and beetle, he must subdue his mother's corrupted Sisters and his power-hungry grandfather Raiden (The Moon King), who is responsible for stealing his left eye.
In order to keep up with Laika's strange yet innovative animated way of storytelling, you might also want to check out 'Corpse Bride', 'The Nightmare Before Christmas', and 'Paranorman'.