Warner Bros has pushed back the release of Animal Friends, its live-action animated hybrid comedy, from June 5 to January 22, 2027. The film, directed by Peter Atencio, stars Ryan Reynolds as voicing Pony and Jason Momoa as Bear, two wanted creatures undertaking a nationwide road trip adventure. The ensemble cast includes Aubrey Plaza as a federal agent, Dan Levy as a Fish and 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 shuffled multiple times since initially scheduled for August 2025 through Columbia Pictures.
Launch Date Shuffle and Studio Changes
Animal Friends has gone through a remarkable journey through Warner Bros’ distribution schedule, after being rescheduled several times since its initial announcement. The film was originally slated for August 15, 2025, when it was planned to debut through Columbia Pictures under Legendary’s partnership with Sony. However, after the end of that arrangement, the project transitioned to Warner Bros., which then rescheduled it several times throughout 2025 and 2026, demonstrating the studio’s persistent efforts to find the best theatrical window for the hybrid comedy.
The January 2027 date now marks the fifth verified release window for the project, illustrating the complexities of managing major studio releases and managing 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 featuring Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd, and Paramount and Miramax’s Scary Movie reboot. The new January positioning allows Animal Friends to sidestep head-to-head competition with these titles whilst potentially capitalizing on post-festive cinema attendance patterns.
- Originally scheduled for 15 August 2025 through Columbia Pictures
- Transferred to Warner Bros after conclusion of Legendary-Sony distribution agreement
- Earlier postponed for October 10, 1 May, and 5 June
- Currently scheduled for 22 January 2027 cinema release date
The Tale and Celebrity-Laden Cast
Animal Friends brings together an strong lineup of established performers and emerging stars for this live action-animated hybrid film. Ryan Reynolds provides the voice Pony, the title character who is small yet self-absorbed animal protagonist, whilst Jason Momoa provides the vocal performance Bear, his larger and substantially more conflict-avoiding counterpart. The supporting cast includes award-winning actress Aubrey Plaza as a resolute DEA agent pursuing the fugitive duo, joined by Dan Levy playing a Fish and Wildlife ranger just as committed to their arrest.
The project enhances its cast credentials with the presence of social media personality and actress Addison Rae, comedian Lil Rey Howery providing voice work for a bird character, and British actress Ellie Bamber completing the ensemble. Directed by Peter Atencio, the screenplay was written by Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider, with production involving Legendary Entertainment, Maximum Effort and Prime Focus Studios. The mix of seasoned comedy performers and fresh faces suggests Warner Bros has assembled a diverse team capable of producing the adult-targeted humour the film seeks to deliver.
Dynamics Between Characters
The core concept rests upon the opposing character traits of the animal pair of protagonists. Pony, in spite of his tiny frame, represents a self-centred narcissism that fuels much of the humour, whilst Bear embodies the opposite temperament—a kindly behemoth who deliberately shuns confrontation. As a pair, this mismatched pair undertakes a cross-country journey to find the ranch they formerly knew as their home, all whilst eluding apprehension from the similarly unconventional law enforcement duo hunting them.
- Pony: tiny animal with pronounced self-centred behavioural patterns
- Bear: large conflict-averse animal companion to Pony
- Aubrey Plaza: resolute DEA investigator pursuing the wanted animals
- Dan Levy: Wildlife and Fisheries warden aiding in pursuit
- Journey across the country seeking their old ranch property
Production Details and Creative Team
“The Animal Friends Project” constitutes a joint venture between three major studios: Legendary Entertainment, Maximum Effort and Prime Focus Studios. The script was crafted by Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider, who created the story around the core concept of two fugitive animals on a desperate cross-country mission. Peter Atencio, an experienced director known for his expertise in comedy and action genres, directs the film to realise the live action-animated hybrid vision to fruition with the necessary comedic timing and stylistic flourish required for an adult-oriented cross-country adventure.
The film’s development process illustrates the intricacies of contemporary studio distribution models. Originally scheduled for release through Columbia Pictures in August 2025, “Animal Friends” transitioned to Warner Bros following the end of Legendary Entertainment’s distribution deal with Sony. This change required a complete reschedule, with the film moving through several release dates—October 2025, May 2026, and June 2026—before finally settling on its January 2027 slot, demonstrating the complex scheduling difficulties facing 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 Comes Next for Reynolds and Momoa
Ryan Reynolds’ schedule remains remarkably busy in spite of the delay to “Animal Friends.” The Canadian performer has the action comedy “Mayday” lined up for September 2026, maintaining him in the public eye throughout the extended anticipation for the Warner Bros. release. Reynolds continues to balance his film commitments with his multiple business ventures, such as his film production outfit Maximum Effort, which is working on “Animal Friends” itself. His involvement in both major studio films and smaller independent ventures showcases his standing as one of Hollywood’s highly coveted marquee actors.
Jason Momoa, meanwhile, has maintained an equally active slate of projects throughout 2026. The actor starred in “The Wrecking Crew” in January and has two major films lined up for the remainder of 2026: the much-awaited “Street Fighter” adaptation and “Dune: Part Three,” the final instalment of Denis Villeneuve’s sprawling sci-fi epic. These major undertakings showcase Momoa’s sustained prominence in both action-driven franchises and high-calibre filmmaking, positioning him as a major attraction for audiences worldwide.
Upcoming Projects
- Reynolds: “Mayday” comedic action film coming September 2026
- Momoa: “The Wrecking Crew” debuting January 2026
- Momoa: “Street Fighter” adaptation launching later in 2026
- Momoa: “Dune: Part Three” wrapping up the sprawling epic in 2026
