Walt Disney pictures has staked out a release date for the highly anticipated Pixar robot feature Wall’E, as well as the CG dog pic, Bolt, which was formerly known as American Dog. Wall’E is slated to hit theaters in North America on June 27, while Bolt will debut on Nov. 26.
WALL’E revolves around a young industrial robot left to live a lonely existence on Earth when the planet becomes too polluted with garbage and the human race has relocated to luxury liners in orbit. Things change with the arrival of a space probe carrying a sleek, state-of-the-art automaton that wins our hero’s mechanical heart and takes him on a wild adventure. The pic is being directed by Andrew Stanton and produced by former Lucasfilm Digital president Jim Morris.
Chris Williams, who has story credits on Disney’s Mulan and The Emperor’s New Groove, will make his directorial debut with Bolt, the story of a pampered Hollywood TV dog who learns about the real world when he is accidentally shipped off to New York. The voice cast will include John Travolta and Susie Essman. The film will be released in stereoscopic 3D in addition to traditional 2D presentation.
In other studio release news, Warner Bros. has picked May 9 to roll out its CG-heavy live-action adaptation of the classic Speed Racer cartoon on May 9, followed by the release of the Batman Begins sequel, The Dark Knight, on July 18. The sixth installment in the Harry Potter saga, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, will open on Nov. 21.
Universal Pictures will open The Incredible Hulk on June 13, followed by Hellboy II: The Golden Army on July 11 and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor on Aug. 1. The animated feature the Tale of Despereaux is scheduled to debut in time for the Holidays, arriving on Dec. 19.
Other dates to watch for include May 22, when the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is set to open, and June 6, when DreamWorks Animation and Paramount plan to release the CG comedy Kung Fu Panda. The sequel Madacascar: The Crate Escape is slated to follow on Nov. 7.
