RedRover Confirms ‘The Nut Job 3’ among Trio of New Titles for AFM

Korea’s RedRover animation studio (Spark, Bolts & Blip) is bringing back Peter Lepeniotis’ squirrel star for a new adventure, confirming that The Nut Job 3 will be introduced to buyers at American Film Market next week. The threequel will be joined by two original animated feature projects spotlighted by the studio.

Based on Lepeniotis’ short Surly Squirrel, the first The Nut Job movie was released in 2014, produced by Gulfstream Pictures, ToonBox Entertainment and RedRover. The animal heist comedy centers on a squirrel and rat duo of thieves, outcast from the city park by the other critters, who set out to make their biggest, nuttiest score yet. The voice cast was led by Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson and Katherine Heigl.

A sequel, The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature, directed by Cal Brunker, was released in 2017. The franchise has earned more than $200 million in global box office.

The Nut Job 3 will catch up with familiar characters and introduce new ones, as it follows Surly’s daughter Hazel on a journey that will test their filial bond, while Surly’s old enemy Raccoon plots payback.

Also leading RedRover’s docket for AFM is Rainmakers, described as the studio’s first K-pop driven story. Lee Seok-hoon (The Himalayas, Special Agent Oso) has been tapped to write and direct. Amy Shi, the studio’s Strategy Executive & Producer, pointed out, “As Korean culture, and K-pop in particular, continues to grow and be celebrated globally, we are thrilled to bring a bold, music-driven animated feature to life under the visionary direction of Lee Seok-hoon … Rainmakers combines the dynamic energy of K-pop with cinematic storytelling to create a vibrant new world.”

Aimed at family audiences, Rainmakers unfolds as a princess and an orphan form an unlikely alliance with other outcasts to take down a corporate enemy on Planet Nero. The producers say K-pop aesthetics will be woven throughout the narrative and visual designs, and the film will include original songs from a TBA K-pop producer.

Rounding out RedRover’s AFM trio is MegaRacer, a sci-fi action-adventure that will bring audiences among the stars. The film is set during a rare celestial event that occurs every eight years, when competing racers travel through time and space to chase ‘glory and mysterious powers.’