The newest addition to the 'Madagascar' franchise arrives in the form of spin-off 'The Penguins of Madagascar', which centres around the penguin characters, Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private. Details of the plot are yet to be unveiled, but the trailer suggests that in an attempt to save the day, the penguins are interrupted by an elite group of animals known as North Wind, which results in them being stranded in a desert.
Each of the penguins will be voiced by the same actors who played them in the Madagascar films; Tom McGrath as Skipper, Chris Miller as Kowalski, John DiMaggio as Rico and Christopher Knights as Private. In terms of new characters, ever rising star Benedict Cumberbatch voices wolf Classified, the leader of North Wind, while John Malkovich (RED, Being John Malkovich) is the film's octopus antagonist Dr. Octavius Brine. Also, comedy actor Ken Jeong (The Hangover franchise) plays North Wind's explosive and demolition's expert Short Fuse; Annet Mahendru stars as Eva, North Wind's snow owl intelligence analyst; and Peter Stormare is the Norwegian bear Corporal.
The film is directed by Simon J. Smith and Eric Darnell. Darnell has directed all the other films of the 'Madagascar' franchise, as well as 1998's 'Antz'. It's Smith's first time one of the movies, though his previous animation directorials include 'Megamind: The Button Of Doom' and 'Bee Movie'.
The film is set for release on November 26th 2014.
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Stormare, John Malkovich, Annet Mahendru, Ken Jeong, Andy Richter, Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knights