The Wild Robot: Everything to Know About DreamWorks' New Film Starring Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal (2024)

WALL-E meets the great outdoors inThe Wild Robot, the latest animated adventure from the legendary DreamWorks Animation studio, featuring the vocal talents of Lupita Nyong'oand Pedro Pascal. Hitting theaters everywhere at the end of this month, the film hails from acclaimed director Chris Sanders, who previously helped launch two mega-successful family franchises with Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon. In addition to directing, Sanders also wrote the screenplay forWild Robot, adapting it from the children's book of the same name by author/illustrator Peter Brown.

“What struck me most about the book was its deceptively simple yet profound emotional depth,” Sanders says in the production notes. “I connected with its innocence and its earnestness. I’m drawn to stories with strong emotional undercurrents. While I appreciate big adventure stories, it’s the quieter, more intimate moments that truly resonate. These are the elements I prioritize as a filmmaker, and I thought The Wild Robot exemplified them beautifully.”

With the movie just weeks away from opening, here's everything you need to know about The Wild Robot.

RELATED:The Wild Robot: Fly Inside Dreamworks' Latest Animated Epic With Exclusive Secrets

The Wild Robot: Everything to Know About DreamWorks' New Film Starring Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal (1)

Roz (Lupita N’yongo) and Brightbill (Kit Connor) in DreamWorks Animation’s Wild Robot, directed by Chris Sanders. Photo: Universal Pictures/DreamWorks Animation

What isThe Wild Robotabout?

The Wild Robotfollows an inquisitive robot named ROZZUM unit 7134 — or "Roz" for short — who finds herself marooned on a island solely inhabited by animals. Roz gradually adapts to her harsh, non-mechanic surroundings, forging relationships with local wildlife and serving as an adoptive mother to an orphaned gosling.

"It dawned on me that animal instincts are a lot like computer programs,” Brown explains. "Animals have a large set of behaviors that they do automatically. Robotically. It turns out, robots and animals have quite a bit in common, and that realization inspired me to write and illustrate The Wild Robot."

Given that the film takes place amidst nature, Sanders wanted to deliver a more free-flowing aesthetic that would effectively capture the mercurial energy of its narrative backdrop. That meant harkening back to old school art traditions, mainly paintings and the beauty of obsolescent 2D animation techniques.

RELATED:

"We needed grace, power and poetry in our visuals, and this approach delivered that and more. It focused on painting with depth, emphasizing impressionistic details over exhaustive realism," Sanders reveals. "This choice not only captivated me with its beauty but also gave the scenes a heightened sense of realism and emotion. We drew inspiration from the animal portrayals in early Disney classics like Bambi, and from the atmospheric forests of Hayao Miyazaki films. Leveraging DreamWorks’ technological advancements, we’ve created a film with a completely unique animation style. Imagine a Miyazaki forest brought to life through the work of Claude Monet."

What is The Wild Robot's release date?

Friday, September 27, exclusively in theaters.

Who stars inThe Wild Robot?

The ensemble voice cast for The Wild Robot includes Lupita Nyong'o as ROZZUM "Roz" Unit 7134,Pedro Pascalas Fink the fox, Catherine O’Hara as Pinktail theopossum, Bill Nighy as Longneck the goose, Kit Connor as Brightbill the gosling, Stephanie Hsu as another robot called Vontra, Mark Hamill as Thorn the grizzly bear, Matt Berry as Paddler the beaver,and Ving Rhames as Thunderbolt the falcon.

How to watchThe Wild Robot

The Wild Robotexclusively hits theaters everywhere Friday, September 27. Click here for tickets!

The Wild Robot: Everything to Know About DreamWorks' New Film Starring Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal (2)

Fink (Pedro Pascal) and Roz (Lupita N’yongo) in DreamWorks Animation’s Wild Robot, directed by Chris Sanders. Photo: Universal Pictures/DreamWorks Animation

How are reviews forThe Wild Robot?

The Wild Robot is currently receiving rave reviews in the wake of its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival this past weekend, with critics describing it as one of the best things to ever come out from under the DreamWorks banner.

"The Wild Robot is different from so many other films where we hear animals speak, since this one relies on a sophisticated robot interpreter for us to understand," wrote Peter Debruge of Variety. "Sure, her intelligence may be artificial, but in the end, Roz’s emotional instincts are what make her so endearing."

RELATED:The 10 Best DreamWorks Animation Movies

"If Spielberg’sE.T.had been an animated film instead, it might resemble what writer-director Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon, The Croods, Lilo & Stitch)has created here," added Pete Hammond ofDeadline."However,Wild Robotweaves itsownmagic and for that we can all cry tears of joy."

"It’s heartening and true and a little sad and incredibly inspiring with a big, ol’ message about the power of community and coming together in the face of major adversity," agreed Kate Erbland of IndieWire. "That it looks so gorgeous and homespun adds to its appeal, a warm little gem of a film that’s both a throwback and a push forward. Too early to ask for two more?"

Want more from DreamWorks? Head on over to Peacock for Shrek, Over the Hedge, Kung Fu Panda, Turbo, The Croods: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and more!

The Wild Robot: Everything to Know About DreamWorks' New Film Starring Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal (2024)

FAQs

Is The Wild Robot going to be a movie? ›

Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon) adapted this poignant DreamWorks feature from Peter Brown's affecting trilogy of the same name. When it hits theaters on September 27, The Wild Robot will please not only its existing fans but garner new ones as well.

Is The Wild Robot movie going to be on Netflix? ›

As part of Universal's long-term deal with Netflix, the film will stream on Peacock for the first four months of the pay-TV window, before moving to Netflix for the next ten, and returning to Peacock for the remaining four.

Who is Pedro Pascal in The Wild Robot movie? ›

The Wild Robot (2024) - Pedro Pascal as Fink - IMDb.

When did The Wild Robot come out? ›

I am so excited to announce that Dreamworks Animation is currently wrapping up a feature animated film based on my book, The Wild Robot. The movie will open in theaters on September 20, 2024, and they've just released the movie poster and the first teaser trailer and announced the cast of voice actors.

Is Roz from The Wild Robot a boy or girl? ›

In 2016 I published my first children's novel, The Wild Robot. It's the story of a robot named Roz and her struggle to survive on a remote, wild island. As it turns out, Roz doesn't just survive, she adapts, and learns to communicate with the wildlife, and then she develops animal friends and even a family.

Is The Wild Robot for kids? ›

I would say you can be 8+. It is a really good book. It is pretty funny and it is also sad. It is good because it is this robot and these animals and the animals are teaching her how to be wild, and the robot is taking care of a baby goose.

What is the next movie in DreamWorks 2024? ›

The Wild Robot Movie Site. September 27, 2024. DreamWorks.

Will there be a Wild Robot 2? ›

A heartwarming and action-packed sequel to the New York Times bestseller, The Wild Robot, this is a book about what happens when technology and nature collide. You can read all about Peter's process of writing the continuation of Roz's story on his BLOG.

What is the new robot movie coming out in 2024? ›

The Wild Robot” is a new animated science-fiction feature, directed by Chris Sanders, starring Lupito Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Catherine O'Hara, Bill Nighy, Kit Connor, Stephanie Hsu, Mark Hamill, Matt Berry and Ving Rhames.

How does The Wild Robot end? ›

The battle leaves Roz with a broken body that the animals cannot repair. In order to keep her friends safe, Roz decides she must return to her makers. She says goodbyes to her son and the other animals and leaves on a plane to return to her factory of origin.

What is The Wild Robot 3 about? ›

The action-packed third installment in Peter Brown's internationally bestselling The Wild Robot series takes Roz on an under-the-ocean journey to save her beloved island! Life for Roz and the animals on their island is perfect: wild, natural, harmonious. Her son Brightbill has even found a mate!

What does Roz do in The Wild Robot? ›

Stranded on a secluded island, Roz makes a home and even raises a gosling as her own son. At the close of The Wild Robot, she and her devoted wildlife friends bravely fight and destroy robots sent to capture and reprogram her. Roz is left with severe damage, and readers are left craving a sequel.

What is The Wild Robot movie based on? ›

According to author Peter Brown, the inspiration for The Wild Robot came from a sketch he did of a robot in a tree. He then asked the question "What would an intelligent robot do in the wilderness?"

Will The Wild Robot have dialogue? ›

(Sanders says Wild Robot has about half as much dialogue as a typical modern animated feature — a choice he consciously made and the studio, to his delight, went along with.)

How many robots survived in The Wild Robot? ›

At the beginning of the story a hurricane came and sank a cargo ship loaded with robots. Only five crates survived the hurricane. After a while they reached land, four crates broke, and one survived.

Will there be a wild robot 2? ›

A heartwarming and action-packed sequel to the New York Times bestseller, The Wild Robot, this is a book about what happens when technology and nature collide. You can read all about Peter's process of writing the continuation of Roz's story on his BLOG.

What is the new movie with the robot? ›

After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz is stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the harsh environment, Roz bonds with the island's animals and cares for an orphaned baby ... Read all.

Will there be a third book in the wild robot series? ›

This thrilling third installment of the Wild Robot series takes readers on a new adventure through the ocean and to the frigid northern waters where Roz may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Foster Heidenreich CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6257

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Foster Heidenreich CPA

Birthday: 1995-01-14

Address: 55021 Usha Garden, North Larisa, DE 19209

Phone: +6812240846623

Job: Corporate Healthcare Strategist

Hobby: Singing, Listening to music, Rafting, LARPing, Gardening, Quilting, Rappelling

Introduction: My name is Foster Heidenreich CPA, I am a delightful, quaint, glorious, quaint, faithful, enchanting, fine person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.