Sing 2 Release Date, Cast, And Plot - What We Know So Far
The 2016 animated musical comedy "Sing" was a hit and is still sitting at the number one spot for top-grossing movies that never finished first at the US box office (via Box Office Mojo). The lighthearted family film centered around the city of Calatonia, whose population is made up of humanoid animal citizens. When the koala theater's owner Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey) decided to host a singing competition to raise funds for his failing venue, his assistant mistakenly added extra digits to the prize money announcement — leading to an overwhelming turnout and even more stress for the overworked theater owner.
Fans loved the star-studded film and its catchy soundtrack — not to mention the heartwarming ending. The sequel to the popular movie, titled "Sing 2," was announced back in 2017, though the premiere date has been pushed back multiple times over the last few years (via Deadline). The COVID-19 pandemic further delayed production, but an updated release date has recently been announced. Here's everything we know so far about "Sing 2."
Updated August 5, 2021: This article has been updated to include information revealed in the first official trailer for the film.
What is the release date of Sing 2?
Production on "Sing 2" has taken quite a few turns. The Hollywood Reporter originally announced its release date as being set for December 25, 2020, but then it was pushed back to July 2, 2021 (via Deadline). We now have another updated premiere date, and hopefully, it sticks. According to Deadline, "Sing 2" is headed back to a winter premiere set for December 22, 2021. The first trailer confirms this general timeline with the vague declaration: "In theaters this Christmas." Taking its place in July is the "Despicable Me" franchise prequel — and "Minions" sequel — "Minions: The Rise of Gru."
"Sing 2" wasn't the only film that struggled to move along during the coronavirus pandemic. Several upcoming animated projects faced difficulties over the unprecedented year, including "Tom & Jerry The Movie" and "SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run." While many production studios had to close, animators were able to continue working remotely — which is already common, as many animation crews are spread around the world. As Deadline reported, because Illumination always operates remotely, it was up to the task, moving forward with "Sing 2" and "Minions: The Rise of Gru" among other projects. A source said that the previous two months had been a period of high productivity, innovation, and creativity.
Who is in the cast of Sing 2?
Much of the cast of "Sing" is returning for the upcoming sequel, including Matthew McConaughey as Buster Moon, Reese Witherspoon as Rosita, Scarlett Johansson as Ash, Taron Egerton as Johnny, Nick Kroll as Gunter, and Tori Kelly as Meena (via Collider).
In December 2020, new cast members were announced to the already star-studded production. The iconic singer Bono is set to play a retired rocker and lion named Clay Calloway. Pharrell Williams will play an elephant named Alfonso that drives an ice cream truck driver. Eric Andre will portray a self-centered yak. Bobby Cannavale is a wolf named Jimmy Crystal who's also an intimidating entertainment mogul. Halsey will play Jimmy's teen daughter Porsche. Letitia Wright will play a feline dancer who teaches the contestants choreography. And Chelsea Peretti is set to play Jimmy's canine assistant (via THR).
While the first "Sing" movie had an impressive line-up and an awesome soundtrack, these new additions are sure to keep the franchise at the top of the box office. Illumination founder Chris Meledandri told Variety that "Sing 2" "is a musical celebration of the unrelenting pursuit of one's dreams, no matter how large the challenges that stand in your way. At its core, this movie speaks to the power of optimism and belief."
What is the plot of Sing 2?
"Sing 2" takes off after the events of the first movie. According to the film synopsis on Universal's website, we'll follow Buster and his talented cast of performers as they set off to tackle a bigger stage at the iconic Crystal Tower Theater in Redshore City. But to get a shot at playing on their dream stage, the gang has to get approval from the intimidating business mogul Jimmy Crystal. In a last-ditch attempt to impress Crystal, Gunter promises they'll be able to get the reclusive rockstar Clay Calloway to star in their show — though they don't know him, and he's been out of the spotlight for years.
The cast sets out to find Calloway, convince Crystal that everything is going to plan, and prepare for the show of a lifetime. Sound fun? Well, it looks fun, too, and if you don't believe us, just check out the official trailer, which dropped on June 24.
Like its predecessor, "Sing 2" is set to include plenty of powerful performances, from classic rock to current pop songs. It's sure to be a wonderful experience for the whole family, and we can't wait to see where Buster and his talented crew end up.