King Julien 2

***King Julien*** is a 2023 American computer-animated comedy film, being directed by Pierre Perifel. The film serves as a sequel to King Julien and a direct prequel to 2008's Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, with King Julien, Maurice and Mort. It is produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Netflix, being released on TBD 2023.

## Premise

Following the events of the previous film, the lemurs from Madagascar—King Julien, Maurice, and Mort— have grown bored with his daily routine and longs to experience home: Madagascar. On the shoreline, they are drifted away to sea on an abandoned lifeboat and wash ashore on Madagascar. They find themselves trapped by the fossa, Although they are rescued by the Jungle Squad, an inter-species intelligence agency; "Theresa", the Kinkajou leader; chimpanzee weapons specialist Ollie; coatimundi demolitionist Mateo; and mongoose intelligence officer Shani, on whom Maurice develops a crush. they return to their territory to tell their boss, Aaron, a Palaeopropithecidae about Julien's return, Aaron teaches them to help him overthrow Julien in exchange for hunting rights in the lemur territory.

Back in Africa, the Zoosters noticed the lemurs' absence and forms a search party. the Jungle Squad and lemurs go to the Jungle Squad's HQ, where Theresa explains that Madagascar used to be a peaceful "Shangri-La", until the fossa invaded. The two raptors find Buck's hideout, but Julien's old friends, Queen Clover, a crowned lemur and King Sage, a dull Indri saves them all by using a gas to knock out the fossa. Clover explains how he used to be part of an old squad that established the kingdom as a place for lemurs to peacefully co-exist. He goes on to say that Aaron did not accept an offer to join his squad because he believed in a world where the strong dominate the weak with him being the leader of them all. Buck further explains that they defeated Aaron and banished him to Foosa Territory, where he learned that he could control the fossa with fire. Aaron then gathers the entire army of fossa to attack the oasis, with Clover and Sage telling the lemurs to evacuate. In revenge for killing her crew in the past, they arrive at the Cove of Wonders and summon Bernie, a sperm whale. When Aaron and his fossas arrive and attack them again. Unfortunately, Julien is captured by Aaron, allowing the others to escape.

Trying to figure out how Aaron controls the fossas, Maurice, Mort, the Jungle Squad and the others devise a plan to rescue Julien. Alex and the others figure out that Julien, Maurice and Mort returned to Madagascar. They encounter Bernie, who tells them the lemurs are in danger. Maurice, Mort, Clover, Sage and the Jungle Squad free Julien and with the help of the others, fight Aaron and his army. Julien tries to explain to Aaron that everyone needs to live in peace, but Aaron arrogantly rebuffs him and continues to fight. After figuring out that Aaron controls the fossa with fire, Julien creates a fire of his own and stop the fossa from fighting and make them chase Aaron away, instead, saving the kingdom.

Julien and the others apologize to the Zoosters for running away. Clover asks Julien and the others to stay in Madagascar, but He, Maurice and Mort express that they want to go back to Africa with the Zoosters. Saddened by their decision, Clover, and the rest of the kingdom's residents allows them to go and say goodbye, but Julien promises he will still come to visit the kingdom often. Maurice gets a kiss from Shani.

## Voice cast

* Sacha Baron Cohen as King Julien, a main protagonist.
* Cedric the Entertainer as Maurice.
* Andy Richter as Mort.
* Rupert Everett as Aaron, a Palaeopropithecidae who is the main antagonist of the film.
* Rachel Bloom as Theresa, a kinkajou with a Scottish accent. He is the Jungle Squad's team leader.
* Seth Rogen as Mateo, a coatimundi and a member of the Jungle Squad who serves as their expert in explosives and demolitions.
* Reggie Watts as Ollie, a chimpanzee. and a member of the Jungle Squad who serves as the weapons specialist.
* Lupita Nyong'o as Shani, a ring-tailed mongoose with a Kenyan accent, Maurice's love interest, and the Jungle Squad's intelligence analyst.
* India de Beaufort as Clover, a female lemur, Julien's former bodyguard and Queen of the Mountain Lemur kingdom.
* Jeff Bennett as Sage, a dull indri, Clover's love interest and King of the Mountain Lemur kingdom.
* Ben Stiller as Alex
* Chris Rock as Marty
* David Schwimmer as Melman
* Jada Pinkett Smith as Gloria
* Jason Issacs as Bernie, a sperm whale.

## Trivia

* The art style of the film is based, used, and same by *Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted*, however, the animation production's was provided by DWA Glendale; while King Julien, Maurice, Mort, and the lemurs' art style is used by *Penguins of Madagascar* that only appear in mid-credits scene, with softwares, MoonRay and Premo.
* The film starts with an exposition prologue (narrated by Sacha Baron Cohen as King Julien) so viewers who have *not* seen the TV Series, All Hail King Julien won't be confused.
* Although the events are set between the second and third Madagascar film, the film is actually a sequel to All Hail King Julien (2014-2017).
* This will be the second film to be distributed by Netflix, after Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans.
* Characters such as the penguins, chimps, Zuba and Florrie are absent in the film.
	+ the penguins and chimps left Africa in their modified plane for Monte Carlo.
* Characters such as Willie, Ted, Dorothy and Becca make cameos in the film.