Open Road Films has acquired all US rights to animated family comedy Duck Duck Goose, produced and financed by Original Force Ltd. The deal, announced by Open Road’s CEO Tom Ortenberg and Original Force President & CEO Harley Zhao, will bring the flick to theaters on April 20, 2018.
The feature will be shopped at Cannes by GFM Films and GFM Animation, which are handling international sales.
Directed by Christopher Jenkins — who also penned the script with Rob Muir — Duck Duck Goose stars Jim Gaffigan as the voice of Peng, a high-flying bachelor goose who is injured in flight and finds himself saddled with two adorably hilarious, demanding ducklings (Zendaya and Lance Lim) on a long journey south that will turn the scrappy threesome into a family.
The voice cast also features Greg Proops, Natasha Leggero, Reggie Watts, Diedrich Bader, Jennifer Grey, Rick Overton, Craig Ferguson, Stephen Fry, and the legendary Carl Reiner. Penney Finkelman Cox and Sandra Rabins produced the film.
“We are thrilled to be in business with Harley Zhao and the team at Original Force,” said Ortenberg. “Sandy and Penney are legends in animation having launched Sony Pictures Animation and DreamWorks Animation, and their impressive track record developing and producing commercial and critical hits in this space speaks for itself. In addition to being a wholly original story filled with lovably funny and relatable characters that the entire family will enjoy, the animation in Duck Duck Goose is truly superb and the project is a welcome addition to our 2018 slate.”
Finkelman Cox and Rabins added: “Duck Duck Goose has been an amazing international collaboration from start to finish and we could not be more proud of the artistry, storytelling and the dazzling animation accomplished by the team at Original Force Animation. Everyone from China to Culver City is delivering a visually stunning and enchanting film that all audiences will fall in love with all over the world.”
The deal was negotiated on behalf of Open Road Films by Tom Ortenberg, CEO; General Counsel, Marni Richman; and SVP of Acquisitions and Production, Lejo Pet. Scott Edel from Loeb & Loeb negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers.
