December 22, 2014
By Dave McNary
Laike and Focus Features, which teamed on “The Boxtrolls,” “Coraline” and “ParaNorman,” have launched production on the animated movie “Kubo and the Two Strings.”
The announcement comes two months after the companies agreed to collaborate on three films, without naming the titles.
Laika president and CEO Travis Knight is making his directorial debut on “Kubo and the Two Strings” from a screenplay by Marc Haimes and Chris Butler (“ParaNorman”). The story, a swashbuckling adventure set in ancient Japan, will use Laika’s 3D stop-motion and CG hybrid technique.
Knight is producing “Kubo and the Two Strings” with Arianne Sutner. Voice cast includes Matthew McConaughey, Charlize Theron, Rooney Mara, Ralph Fiennes, Brenda Vaccaro and Art Parkinson, who is providing the voice for the title character of Kubo.
In the story, Kubo ekes out a humble living while devotedly caring for his mother in their sleepy shoreside village. It is a quiet existence – until a spirit from the past catches up with him. His survival rests on finding the magical suit of armor once worn by his fallen father.
The movie will open in theaters domestically on Aug. 19, 2016. Focus will release “Kubo and the Two Strings” in the U.S. and Universal Pictures International will release the movie internationally.
“Boxtrolls” has grossed $107 million worldwide.
The news was first reported by Deadline.com.