It is a pretty good time to be a movie based on a line of toys. In recent years, movie studios have somehow been able to find popular toys such as LEGO andTransformersand have managed to turn them into successful movie franchises. DreamWorks was able to get in on the action last year withTrollsand the movie did pretty well, so a sequel has officially been announced.Trolls 2is now set to hit theaters in 2020.
Via the official Trolls Twitter account, it was announced that bothJustin TimberlakeandAnna Kendrickare going to be back forTrolls 2, reprising their roles as Branch and Poppy respectively. It isn’t clear ifJustin Timberlakeis going to compose any original music for the sequel, but given the success of “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” it seems very likely that will be part of the plan. Here is what DreamWorks had to say about it.
“Can’t stop the feeling as the colorful, wondrous Trolls return for Trolls 2, the follow-up to 2016’s breakout global hit about how far you’ll go for happiness… and how far you’ll go to get it back. Anna Kendrick andJustin Timberlakereprise their roles as the eternal optimist Poppy and the curmudgeon Branch in the new musical comedy-adventure from the creators of Shrek. Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls 2 will arrive in theaters on July 05, 2025.”
Trollswas a movie that didn’t seem like it was set up for success when it was originally announced, as many people seemed to question how a movie based on some strange dolls could actually work. But similar toThe LEGO Movie,DreamWorksalong with directorsWalt DohrnandMike Mitchellwere able to turn a toy into a hit.Trollsmade $339 million at the box office and perhaps more surprisingly was generally embraced by critics. The movie currently holds a 74 percent approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 70 percent audience score. Not only that, butJustin Timberlake’s song “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” which was composed forTrolls, was a massive success. The song hit number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song. The song ultimately lost to “City of Stars” fromLa La Land, butTimberlakedid get to perform the song as the opening number for the Academy Awards ceremony. That was enough for the studio to give the green light toTrolls 2.
At the moment it isn’t known ifWalt DohrnorMike Mitchellwill return to directTrolls 2, but one would imagine that DreamWorks would want to keep the creative team together if possible. It also isn’t clear if any of the other voice cast such asJames Corden,Zooey DeschanelorRussell Brandwill return. Either way,Trolls 2will be hitting theaters on July 19, 2025. you’re able to check out the announcement Tweet from DreamWorks for yourself below.
