Director Chris Sanders Is Back At DreamWorks Animation For 'The Wild Robot'
The filmmaker previously directed 'How To Train Your Dragon' and 'The Croods', and did the story for the latter's sequel
After a brief dabble in live action at 20th Century Studios, famed director Chris Sanders is directing a new animated film at DreamWorks Animation, The Wild Robot, bringing him back to the studio where he directed How to Train Your Dragon and The Croods.
The Wild Robot will be an adaptation of Peter Brown’s 2016 New York Times best-selling novel by that title. It follows Rozzum 7134 or “Roz”, a futuristic robot that comes ashore to a deserted island, kickstarting “a tale of survival and discovery begins when she becomes the unexpected protector to an orphaned gosling, which she names Brightbill. Together they struggle to survive the harsh environment, but only succeed with the help of a close-knit group of misfit animals, who become first friends, then family. Ultimately Roz and company save the island from a robotic invasion by Roz’s manufacturer, looking to bring her back to civilization by any means necessary.” The synopsis also describes a story about having “the power to ‘exceed our programming,’ to become more than we were destined to be. Roz not only finds a way to survive in this dangerous world, but also brings new meaning to her ‘life’ by taking on the responsibility of parenthood. The movie celebrates what it means to be wild and alive, and how cooperation is the key to survival in a harsh world.”
Sanders is not only directing the film but writing it as well. Jeff Hermann is producing and Dean DeBlois, with whom Sanders co-directed Lilo & Stitch and will executive produce. Longtime DreamWorks Animation veteran Raymond Zibach will be production designer, Mary Blee will be editor; and head of story is Heidi Jo Gilbert, coming off of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. The Wild Robot spawned two sequel books, 2019’s The Wild Robot Escapes and, just released in late September, The Wild Robot Protects.
Having worked for Disney from Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Mulan, and of course Lilo & Stitch, Sanders was infamously removed from American Dog (which became Bolt without him) having clashed with then-just-installed head John Lasseter, and so moved to DreamWorks. After directing How to Train Your Dragon, Sanders moved into executive producing the sequels which DeBlois directed on his own, and after directing The Croods, wrote the story for its sequel A New Age. He then directed the live-action adaptation of Call of the Wild starring Harrison Ford. He is also set to reprise his role as Stitch in a hybrid Lilo & Stitch remake for Disney+ from Marcel the Shell With Shoes On director Dean Fleischer Camp.
Source: The Wrap