Annecy 2026: Illumination Reveals 'Not Alone'
Illumination have proved that there is more to them than Minions. From The Secret Life Of Pets to Sing, to the billion-dollar grossing Super Mario movies, they show they are no one-trick pony. And during their presentation at the Annecy festival, they unveiled their next original movie.
Not Alone is an entirely original animated feature set to star Timothée Chalamet and Selena Gomez, opening April 16, 2027.
Chamalet voices Joe, an introverted rocket mechanic who lives a quiet life. Gomez voices Fran, a brilliant astro-botanist developing the world's first plant-fueled rocket. When they are brought together to work on a project, sparks fly- but neither is particularly adept in the world of romance.
Things become more complicated when three tiny, unruly and adorable aliens take refuge in Joe's home. Dunk, Welly and Shirm are fugitives on the run from Zandro, a zealous but inept officer of the law. The trio decide that Fran's rocket could offer them their escape.
The aliens are voiced by British comedy stars Rob Brydon (The Trip), Diane Morgan (aka Philomena Cunk) and Jamie Demetriou (Stath Lets Flats) as Dunk, Welly and Shirm, with Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso) as Zandro. The supporting voice cast includes Alison Janney and Lamorne Morris.
Not Alone is directed by Eric Guillon, Claire Dodgson and Jonathan Del Val. Guillon was co-director of Despicable Me 3, and was also the designer on the Despicable Me and Minions series, as well as doing additional design work on the Secret Life Of Pets and Sing movies. Dodgson was an editor on The Lorax, Minions, Despicable Me 3 and Minions: The Rise of Gru. Del Val co-directed Minions: The Rise Of Gru and The Secret Life Of Pets 2
The film is produced by Ilumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and executive produced by Joy Poirel, Richard Curtis and David Distenfeld.
This combination of Illumination's usual charm and a British comedy sensibility promises to create something unique. In the meantime, the studio's next feature, Minions and Monsters, opens in cinemas on July 1.
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