The Garfield Movie

The Garfield Movie is a 2024 American animated adventure comedy film based on Jim Davis' comic strip Garfield, produced by Columbia Pictures and Alcon Entertainment (in the latter's first animated film), animated by DNEG Animation, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. Directed by Mark Dindal from a screenplay written by David Reynolds and the writing team of Paul A. Kaplan and Mark Torgove, the film stars Chris Pratt as the voice of the titular character, alongside the voices of Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Harvey Guillén, Brett Goldstein, Bowen Yang, and Snoop Dogg.
Development on a new animated Garfield film began in May 2016, with producers and writers already attached. Dindal was announced as the film's director in November 2018, and pre-production began the following month. Despite Viacom acquiring most of the rights to Garfield in August 2019, production proceeded without their involvement. In November 2021, Sony purchased the distribution rights for the film, and Pratt was cast as Garfield. The rest of the cast joined in 2022. John Debney, a frequent collaborator of Dindal, composed the score.
The Garfield Movie is set to be released in the United States on May 24, 2024.
== Premise[edit] ==
Garfield (voiced by Chris Pratt), the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving indoor cat, is about to have a wild outdoor adventure! After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father – scruffy street cat Vic (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson) – Garfield and his canine friend Odie are forced from their perfectly pampered life into joining Vic in a hilarious, high-stakes heist.
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== Voice cast[edit] ==
* Chris Pratt as Garfield, a cynical and lazy orange tabby cat who loves lasagna and sleeping, and hates Mondays and exercise[4]
* Samuel L. Jackson as Vic, Garfield's biological and estranged father[4]
* Hannah Waddingham as Jinx, a villainous Persian cat[4]
* Ving Rhames as Otto, a bull[4]
* Nicholas Hoult as Jon Arbuckle, Garfield and Odie's owner[4]
* Cecily Strong as Marge, a dedicated Animal Control officer
* Harvey Guillén as Odie, a dim-witted yellow beagle and Garfield's best friend[4]
* Brett Goldstein as Roland, a large Shar Pei who is one of Jinx's henchmen[4]
* Bowen Yang as Nolan, a small Whippet who is one of Jinx's henchmen[4]
* Janelle James as Olivia, a green cat at the pound
* Snoop Dogg as an unnamed blue Maine Coon with a eyepatch.[5]
* Devika Joshi as Liz Wilson, a female vet who Jon likes romantically
Additionally, Nermal will appear in the film.[6]
== Production[edit] ==
=== Development[edit] ===
In May 2016, seven years after 20th Century Fox's license with Paws, Inc. expired, it was announced that Alcon Entertainment would develop a new CG animated Garfield film, with John Cohen and Steven P. Wegner producing, from a script by Mark Torgove and Paul A. Kaplan.[7][8] Mark Dindal was announced as director in November 2018, with pre-production beginning the following month.[9] In August 2019, Viacom (now known as Paramount Global) acquired most of the rights to Garfield, leaving the status of the film at the time uncertain. However, in December 2020, Dindal confirmed that the film was still in production.[10]
In November 2021, David Reynolds was announced to write the film, reuniting with Dindal after having previously worked together on Disney's The Emperor's New Groove (2000).[11] Sony Pictures would distribute the film under its Columbia Pictures label except for China, and DNEG Animation would provide the animation.[12][13] By September 2023, it was reported that the film would be entitled The Garfield Movie.[14][15]
=== Casting[edit] ===
In November 2021, Chris Pratt was announced to star as Garfield. In May 2022, it was reported that Samuel L. Jackson joined the film as Garfield's father, Vic.[16] In August 2022, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Hannah Waddingham and Cecily Strong were added to the cast.[17] In November 2022, Brett Goldstein and Bowen Yang were added to the cast.[18] Harvey Guillén was confirmed to voice Odie in November 2023,[19] and Hoult was later confirmed to voice Jon Arbuckle in December 2023.[20] With the release of the second trailer in March 2024, Snoop Dogg was revealed to star in the film, and Janelle James was also announced to star the same month.[21][22]
=== Music[edit] ===
In November 2023, it was reported that John Debney would compose the film's score, marking his third collaboration with Dindal following The Emperor's New Groove and Chicken Little (2005).[23] Snoop Dogg collaborated with Keith Urban on an original song for the film titled "Let It Roll", which was released as a single on April 12, 2024.[24] Another single titled "Then There Was You" was released by Calum Scott on May 2, 2024.
== Release[edit] ==
The Garfield Movie is scheduled for theatrical release in the United States on May 24, 2024.[25] It was previously scheduled for release on February 16, 2024.[26]
In April 2021, Sony signed deals with Netflix and Disney for the rights to their 2022 to 2026 film slate, following the films' theatrical and home media windows. Netflix signed for exclusive "pay 1 window" streaming rights, which is typically an 18-month window and included The Garfield Movie. Disney signed for "pay 2 window" rights for the films, which would be streamed on Disney+ and Hulu as well as broadcast on Disney's linear television networks.[27]
=== Video game[edit] ===
A video game spin-off based on the film is set to be released in 2024.[28][29]
== Box office[edit] ==
In the United States and Canada, The Garfield Movie is scheduled to be released alongside Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, and is projected to gross around $35 million over its four-day opening weekend.[30]
The film opened in 18 countries on May 3, and grossed $22