Warner Bros has postponed the release of Animal Friends, its live-action animated hybrid comedy, from June 5 to January 22, 2027. The film, helmed by Peter Atencio, stars Ryan Reynolds as voicing Pony and Jason Momoa as Bear, two fugitive animals setting off on a cross-country road trip adventure. The ensemble cast includes Aubrey Plaza as a federal agent, Dan Levy as a wildlife ranger, Addison Rae, Lil Rey Howery and Ellie Bamber. This marks the latest in a series of schedule changes for the project, which has been moved around multiple times since initially scheduled for August 2025 through Columbia Pictures.
Launch Date Changes and Production Changes
Animal Friends has experienced a remarkable path through Warner Bros’ release schedule, after being moved multiple times since its initial announcement. The film was originally scheduled for August 15, 2025, when it was scheduled to arrive through Columbia Pictures under Legendary’s partnership with Sony. However, after the termination of that arrangement, the project transitioned to Warner Bros., which then shifted it multiple times throughout 2025 and 2026, reflecting the studio’s ongoing attempts to locate the ideal release date for the blended comedy.
The January 2027 date now represents the fifth verified release slot for the project, reflecting the intricacies of coordinating major studio releases and navigating competitive marketplace dynamics. By abandoning the June 5 slot, Warner Bros has cleared space for other high-profile releases, including Amazon and MGM’s Masters of the Universe, Lionsgate’s Power Ballad starring Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd, and Paramount and Miramax’s Scary Movie reboot. The new January positioning allows Animal Friends to sidestep direct competition with these titles whilst potentially capitalizing on post-holiday cinema attendance patterns.
- Originally scheduled for August 15, 2025 through Columbia Pictures
- Transferred to Warner Bros following end of Legendary-Sony distribution deal
- Earlier postponed for 10 October, May 1, and June 5
- Now set for 22 January 2027 cinema release date
The Story and Star-Filled Cast
Animal Friends brings together an notable collection of seasoned actors and up-and-coming performers for this live-action and animated adventure. Ryan Reynolds voices Pony, the title character who is small yet self-absorbed creature lead, whilst Jason Momoa provides the vocal performance Bear, his bigger and notably more peace-loving companion. The cast members features critically praised performer Aubrey Plaza as a resolute DEA agent pursuing the escaped pair, joined by Dan Levy taking on the role of a Fish and Wildlife ranger equally invested in their capture.
The project further strengthens its cast credentials with the inclusion of social media personality and actress Addison Rae, comedian Lil Rey Howery voicing a bird character, and British actress Ellie Bamber rounding off the ensemble. Helmed by Peter Atencio, the screenplay was penned by Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider, with production involving Legendary Entertainment, Maximum Effort and Prime Focus Studios. The combination of seasoned comedy performers and fresh faces suggests Warner Bros has gathered a diverse team capable of delivering the adult-oriented comedy the film intends to accomplish.
Character Interactions
The core concept centres on the divergent character traits of the duo of animal leads. Pony, in spite of his tiny frame, embodies a narcissistic self-absorption that drives much of the comedic elements, whilst Bear represents the inverse nature—a gentle giant who actively avoids conflict. Together, this disparate twosome sets out on a cross-country journey to find the property they formerly knew as home, all whilst avoiding apprehension from the comparably quirky enforcement officers hunting them.
- Pony: tiny animal with distinct self-centred behavioural patterns
- Bear: large conflict-averse animal companion to Pony
- Aubrey Plaza: resolute DEA officer hunting the wanted animals
- Dan Levy: Wildlife and Fisheries ranger helping in pursuit
- Cross-country adventure attempting to locate their old ranch property
Production Information and Creative Team
“The Animal Friends Project” represents a joint venture between three major studios: Legendary Entertainment, Maximum Effort and Prime Focus Studios. The screenplay was developed by Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider, who created the narrative around the central premise of a pair of escaped creatures on a desperate cross-country mission. Peter Atencio, an experienced director recognised for his work in comedy and action styles, directs the project to realise the hybrid live-action animated concept to life with the required comic timing and stylistic flourish needed for an adult-oriented road trip adventure.
The film’s production journey illustrates the complexities of contemporary studio distribution models. Initially planned for release through Columbia Pictures in August 2025, “Animal Friends” moved to Warner Bros following the conclusion of Legendary Entertainment’s distribution deal with Sony. This change necessitated a full rescheduling, with the project moving through several release dates—October 2025, May 2026, and June 2026—before finally settling on its January 2027 slot, highlighting the intricate scheduling challenges confronting major studio releases.
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Director | Peter Atencio |
| Screenplay Writers | Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider |
| Production Companies | Legendary Entertainment, Maximum Effort, Prime Focus Studios |
| Distributor | Warner Bros. |
What’s Next for Reynolds and Momoa
Ryan Reynolds’ timetable stays remarkably occupied in spite of the postponement to “Animal Friends.” The Canadian actor has the comedic action film “Mayday” scheduled for September 2026, maintaining him in the spotlight throughout the prolonged anticipation for the Warner Bros. film. Reynolds manages to juggle his movie obligations with his multiple business ventures, including his film production outfit Maximum Effort, which is involved in developing “Animal Friends” itself. His participation in major studio productions and independent projects demonstrates his position as one of Hollywood’s highly coveted marquee actors.
Jason Momoa, in the meantime, has sustained a similarly robust slate of projects throughout 2026. The actor starred in “The Wrecking Crew” in January and has a pair of substantial projects lined up for later in the year: the eagerly awaited “Street Fighter” adaptation and “Dune: Part Three,” the ultimate chapter of Denis Villeneuve’s grand science fiction series. These major undertakings showcase Momoa’s sustained prominence in both action franchises and prestige cinema, cementing his status as a major draw for audiences worldwide.
Upcoming Projects
- Reynolds: “Mayday” action comedy arriving September 2026
- Momoa: “The Wrecking Crew” debuting January 2026
- Momoa: “Street Fighter” film adaptation launching later in 2026
- Momoa: “Dune: Part Three” wrapping up the epic saga in 2026
