Jeffrey Katzenberg talks DreamWorks Animation Sequels
This is what Jeffrey Katzenberg had to say when asked if Shrek Forever After would be the last sequel in that franchise:
""What our movies and our franchises also share in common with Shrek is that they have a beginning, a middle and an end; they're not open-ended. Each of the films is a chapter of a story and in every instance we knew what that journey was or could be before we even started. So today I can tell you pretty succinctly where Madagascar goes. Ultimately they will come back to New York, and they will come to terms with that, which they will do in this next chapter. Because of the way that movie concludes there's probably one more for them. Yeah, there's probably a fourth there. Kung Fu Panda actually has 6 chapters to it, and we've mapped that out over the years. How to Train Your Dragon is at least three: maybe more, but we know there are a least three chapters to that story. There are actually 8 books."
To read more about Jeffrey Katzenberg's strategy as far as DreamWorks Animation is concerned,
Madagascar was released May 27th, 2005 and stars Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter, Tom McGrath. The film is directed by Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath.
Kung Fu Panda was released June 6th, 2008 and stars Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross. The film is directed by Mark Osborne, John Stevenson.
How to Train Your Dragon was released March 26th, 2010 and stars Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T.J. Miller, Kristen Wiig. The film is directed by Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders.
Shrek Forever After was released May 21st, 2010 and stars Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, Jon Hamm, John Cleese, Craig Robinson. The film is directed by Mike Mitchell.
Comments (26)
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Diaigma
As for a new studio, be on the look out for Blind Wink's Rango. Looks promising (and I hear they might have their hands involved in a much anticipated Bioshock project?)
1 year agoby @diaigmaFlag
Diaigma
You're not alone, @Narrator - I, too, am not a "die-hard" Pixar fan. Being a fan of a studio is just lame-sauce to me. Studios change hands, product value is not always the same, etc. People tend to love WB at the moment, but man, they produced some of the worst films during the 90s. I'm a die-hard animation fan. If the feature is good, I could care less which studio it comes from, but then we live in a society where you have to pick a side and "fence sitting" is looked down upon (phhhptb!) Pixar is a great studio with a lot of good resources, but even they will disappoint audiences eventually.
*cough*Cars 2*cough*
1 year agoby @diaigmaFlag
Daveactor7
@Narrator lol
1 year agoby @daveactor7Flag
The Narrator: The Better Man
*hate, @Dave. Lol.
1 year agoby @narratorFlag
Daveactor7
I had sequelitis nowadays not only in animation
1 year agoby @daveactor7Flag
Dan
Actually, I'm with you, @Narrator, bout Pixar. With sequelitis setting in with them, I don't see them in the same light anymore.
1 year agoby @dan1Flag
The Narrator: The Better Man
@Diaigma, I was gonna post a similar comment, but then read yours and saw that it said everything I was gonna say. Well done. I for one honestly am not too upset about this. 6 Panda films? That's a pretty big stretch, because no matter how good they are, we can only get so much Jack Black and Co. However, I am glad to see that the notion of a 6 feature saga was already pre-conceived.
Also, as you said, HTTYD has a LOT of source material to pull from, so I'm definitely down with a solid, non-rushed trilogy. I don't like the Madagascar series, but I feel like seeing them return to NY and having them cope with their decisions would be a good finisher. Just no go for a fourth film. Overall, this news isn't too far out there in my mind, and although it MIGHT be solely based on money, at least they were pre-planned notions of milking. Lol. :P
Also, I feel as if I am the only that's not a die hard Pixar fan on this site. I really enjoye their recent films, and their leaps forward in animation, but they aren't "untouchable" as some make them out to be. I didn't really care for Cars, and didn't really enjoy "a Bug's Life" either... at least not after watching it 3 times, which really isn't a big deal. Monsters Inc. was fun for a while, but turned "meh" quickly. I just don't think they're all people hype it them up to be, and as @D pointed out, they too are coming out with unnecessary sequels (thanks to Disney). Personally, I would like to see a new studio rise, seeing as all we ever see is Pixar, Dreamworks Animation, and Sony Pictures Animation. Who knows, maybe one day.
1 year agoby @narratorFlag
Diaigma
@Worth5Bucks - yep! Better off buying them separately. Hopefully I can return mine.
@Wichy - Star Wars made up on the fly? What do you mean? The prequels? I mean, he had those in mind from the beginning, but could only afford to make EP 4 to start it :P
1 year agoby @diaigmaFlag
Worth5Bucks
@diagma did they really? I'm not buying that then. Thanks for the heads up.
1 year agoby @mattbierwagenFlag
Witchking86
Honestly im glad they are planning these films, its a good thing to plan especially if they are good. I would hate most of these films to follow in the footsteps of star wars. Star Wars were made up on the fly and for those who really really enjoyed How To Train Your Dragon and Kung Fu Panda im glad they are planning these, at least they will follow some sort of agenda instead of being made up right before production. They are being smart about it!!
1 year agoby @fatguy1986Flag
Diaigma
Upon reflection, this is what I think about this news (thanks to my sources).
For what it's worth, they've "learned" their lesson from Shrek . . . I suppose . . . : /
I've never thought much about Madagascar, and while I found the second one to be pretty fun, the franchise itself is kinda, meh. As for Dragon, I've been reading up on the novels that the movie is based on and let me tell you, they have A LOT of good stuff to work with. Looks promising. As for Panda, I'm a bit worried, because that is a long stretch. However, unlike Shrek (making the sequels because the first was a smash hit), they've been planning these sequels all along, but wouldn't proceed until they had a good reason to (earns a profit). So I wouldn't raise your pitchforks just yet, folks. You can't blame studios for wanting to make money, because they have to to stay in business (but you can blame studios for buying out other studios and reaping their rewards - ala Disney). If the sequels are done well, I won't mind. Panda 2 still looks more promising than Cars 2. I'd love to hear someone argue that.
As for the two rabid Pixar fans at the bottom, you forget Cars 2 next year and Monsters Inc 2 is in the works as we speak. They're quickly following "suit" at Disney's command :P
And don't bother buying the Complete Toy Story Box Set. They cheaped out on packaging BIG time. I'll be lucky not to scratch the discs with this flimsy foam they rest in ):(
1 year agoby @diaigmaFlag
Daveactor7
lol i tried to click thumbs down twice
1 year agoby @daveactor7Flag
Dan
For the people who thumbed this up: You are why they'll continue to make these sequels instead of coming up with original movies. As long as you continue to contribute to sequels that get progressively stale (and they will), they'll keep churning them out. Thanks for nothing.
1 year agoby @dan1Flag
Mutant
Instead of putting all their eggs in one basket, they need to wait and see how successful the future films are before planning more films.
1 year agoby @zenderFlag
Hiddenstranger66
Sweet mother of GOD! DreamWorks stop this insanity before too much action is taken and you cannot go back from it! Seriously, KFP and HTTYD were SINGULAR films, that what made them great! Making a franchise only will hurt all the work you put into this, I cannot see how this can go any other direction but terrible!
1 year agoby @hiddenstranger66Flag
Wichy
6 Kung Fu Panda sequels? *mouth drops* Why mess with something when it doesn't need to be messed with :/
1 year agoby @wichitagalzlFlag
calvin
No more!!!! If I were to make a sequel, it would the previous one better. Kung Fu Panda Does not need 6 sequels. I mean, that's just wrong.
1 year agoby @calvinFlag
Dan
Epic fail.
1 year agoby @dan1Flag
Daveactor7
@MrP question-is TRANSFORMERS 2 a dreamworks ANIMATION film????
1 year agoby @daveactor7Flag
MrP
Kung Fu Panda blew. I took the kids and all I got was the bones in my arse started to come through my cheeks. Only 2 other films have managed to bore the piss out of me or maybe 3, but Transformers 2 was really painful.
1 year agoby @mrpFlag
Daveactor7
Pixar is the best. Dreamworks is just getting over the top nowadays. Shrek, Madagascar are great alone. Their sequels are not that good
1 year agoby @daveactor7Flag
Diaigma
Ugh. This is stomach churning.
1 year agoby @diaigmaFlag
Dark enV
this is ridiculous, this is exactly why Pixar is king, they don't keep churning out sequel after sequel, they only move forward with a sequel if it benefits the story and characters. Dreamworks is afraid of putting out anything original, it's all a money game to them and they'll fail. If they ruin How to Train Your Dragon I'm gonna be pissed, to me that was their best film and if they destroy I'll be really upset.
1 year agoby @dark-envFlag
moviegeek
.... .... I just lost all faith in Dreamworks forever. Not only did they say that the third Madagascar film comes full circle to just redo the first one, but SIX Kung Fu Panda films???? WHAT THE!!? Thumbs WAY down.
1 year agoby @moviegeekFlag
Jakn
4 Madagascar' movies?
6 Kung Fu Panda' movies?
3 'How to Train You Dragon' movies?
WAY TOO MUCH! The 'Sherk' franchise begin to die by the third. The fourth (and final) chapter to 'Sherk' is the worst sequel by far from Dreamworks Animation. The best sequel from Dreamworks Animation yet is 'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa', but damn its not necessary to have an ass-load of sequels. They're obviously going to be exhausting.
@Narzion I have to agree with you. PIXAR IS TRULY BETTER THEN DREAMWORKS ANIMATION!
1 year agoby @jaknFlag
Narzion
so: 4 Madagascar movies, 3-8 how to train your dragon movies, and another 5 kung fu panda movies -very creative- THIS IS WHY PIXAR IS THE BEST AND DREAMWORKS SUCKS!
1 year agoby @narzionFlag