CEO Chris Meledandri shared that the studio’s next original film, a romance between 2 very shy people incapable of coming together until the possibility of Earth’s demise intervenes, stars Timothée Chalamet and Selena Gomez and hits theaters April 16, 2027.
Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri today told an Annecy crowd that Not Alone, an entirely original animated feature starring Timothée Chalamet and Selena Gomez, will open in theaters April 16, 2027.
Chalamet, in his first feature-length animated film role, voices Joe, an introverted rocket mechanic who lives a quiet life alone. Gomez co-stars as Fran, a brilliant astro-botanist developing the world’s first plant-fueled rocket. When Joe and Fran are brought together to prepare for the inaugural launch of the revolutionary rocket, there are immediate sparks, though neither is particularly adept at romance.
Life becomes more complicated when three tiny, unruly and adorable aliens take refuge in Joe’s home. Dunk, Welly and Shirm are on the interplanetary run from Zandro, a zealous-yet-inept officer of the law, and determine that Fran’s rocket could provide their way home to safety.
The aliens are voiced by British comedy stars Rob Brydon, Diane Morgan and Jamie Demetriou as Dunk, Welly and Shirm, with Brett Goldstein voicing Zandro. The supporting voice cast includes Allison Janney and Lamorne Morris.
Chalamet is a four-time Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe and Actor Award winner whose credits include Marty Supreme and the Dune films. Gomez is an Actor Award winner and Emmy and Grammy nominee whose credits include Only Murders in the Building and Emilia Pérez. Brydon’s credits include Barbie and The Trip; Morgan’s include the Cunk On series and Mandy; Demetriou’s include Cruella and Jay Kelly; Goldstein’s include Ted Lasso and Office Romance; Janney’s include Minions & Monsters and The Diplomat; and Morris’ include Fargo and Spider-Noir.
Not Alone is directed by Eric Guillon, Claire Dodgson and Jonathan Del Val. Guillon, co-director of Despicable Me 3, is also the designer of Despicable Me and Minions, with additional Illumination design work on The Secret Life of Pets and Sing films. Dodgson’s editing credits include The Lorax, Minions, Despicable Me 3 and Minions: The Rise of Gru. Del Val co-directed Minions: The Rise of Gru and The Secret Life of Pets 2.
The film is produced by Meledandri and executive produced by Joy Poirel, Richard Curtis and David Distenfeld.
Illumination’s previous films include Minions and Despicable Me, the biggest global animated franchise in history, as well as Sing, The Secret Life of Pets, Migration and the Super Mario Bros. films. The studio’s next feature, Minions & Monsters, directed by Pierre Coffin, opens July 1.
Source: Illumination
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
