Warner Bros has delayed 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 the voice of Pony and Jason Momoa as Bear, two fugitive animals undertaking a cross-country journey adventure. The supporting 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 string of schedule changes for the project, which has been shuffled multiple times since initially scheduled for August 2025 through Columbia Pictures.
Release Date Changes and Studio Shifts
Animal Friends has experienced a notable path through Warner Bros’ distribution schedule, having been shifted multiple times since its initial announcement. The film was initially scheduled for August 15, 2025, when it was planned to debut through Columbia Pictures under Legendary’s partnership with Sony. However, after the conclusion of that partnership, the project went to Warner Bros., which later shifted it several times throughout 2025 and 2026, demonstrating the studio’s ongoing efforts to find the best theatrical window for the comedy hybrid.
The January 2027 date now constitutes the fifth confirmed 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 freed space for other prominent 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 avoid direct competition with these titles whilst possibly capitalizing on post-festive cinema attendance patterns.
- Originally scheduled for 15 August 2025 through Columbia Pictures
- Transferred to Warner Bros following end of Legendary-Sony distribution deal
- Previously rescheduled for 10 October, 1 May, and 5 June
- Now set for January 22, 2027 theatrical release date
The Narrative and Star-Filled Cast
Animal Friends brings together an notable collection of seasoned actors and up-and-coming performers for this mixed live-action and animated film. Ryan Reynolds lends his voice Pony, the main small and egocentric animal character, whilst Jason Momoa provides the vocal performance Bear, his larger and substantially more conflict-avoiding companion. The ensemble features acclaimed actress Aubrey Plaza as a resolute DEA agent pursuing the wanted pair, joined by Dan Levy portraying a Fish and Wildlife ranger similarly determined about their arrest.
The project enhances its cast credentials with the presence 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. Directed by Peter Atencio, the screenplay was written by Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider, with production undertaken by Legendary Entertainment, Maximum Effort and Prime Focus Studios. The combination of seasoned comedy performers and fresh faces suggests Warner Bros has brought together a diverse team equipped to providing the adult-targeted humour the film seeks to deliver.
Character Relationships
The central concept rests upon the contrasting temperaments of the duo of animal leads. Pony, despite his diminutive stature, exemplifies a self-absorbed nature that drives much of the comedic elements, whilst Bear represents the opposite temperament—a benevolent colossus who actively avoids confrontation. Together, this unlikely duo undertakes a long-distance expedition to locate the homestead they formerly knew as their home, all whilst avoiding detention from the comparably quirky police pair pursuing them.
- Pony: tiny creature with marked self-centred behavioural patterns
- Bear: large non-confrontational creature companion to Pony
- Aubrey Plaza: single-minded DEA officer pursuing the wanted animals
- Dan Levy: Fish and Wildlife ranger assisting in the search
- Journey across the country searching for their previous ranch residence
Production Information and Creative Staff
“Animal Friends” represents a joint venture between three major production companies: Legendary Entertainment, Maximum Effort and Prime Focus Studios. The screenplay was crafted by Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider, who constructed the story around the core concept of a pair of escaped creatures on a urgent cross-country journey. Peter Atencio, an experienced director recognised for his expertise in action and comedy styles, directs the project to bring the live action-animated hybrid concept to fruition with the necessary comedic timing and stylistic flourish needed for an adult-targeted road trip adventure.
The film’s development process illustrates the complexities of modern studio distribution arrangements. Originally scheduled for distribution via Columbia Pictures in August 2025, “Animal Friends” transitioned to Warner Bros following the conclusion of Legendary Entertainment’s distribution partnership with Sony. This change required a complete reschedule, with the project moving through several release dates—October 2025, May 2026, and June 2026—before ultimately landing 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 Comes Next for Reynolds and Momoa
Ryan Reynolds’ schedule remains remarkably busy despite the postponement to “Animal Friends.” The Canadian actor has the comedic action film “Mayday” lined up for September 2026, maintaining him in the public eye during the prolonged anticipation for the Warner Bros. film. Reynolds continues to balance his film commitments with his various commercial interests, such as his film production outfit Maximum Effort, which is working on “Animal Friends” itself. His involvement in both demonstrates his position as one of the film industry’s most sought-after marquee actors.
Jason Momoa, in the meantime, has maintained an equally active slate of projects throughout 2026. The actor starred in “The Wrecking Crew” in January and has two significant releases lined up for later in the year: the highly anticipated “Street Fighter” adaptation and “Dune: Part Three,” the ultimate chapter of Denis Villeneuve’s sprawling sci-fi epic. These major undertakings demonstrate Momoa’s continued prominence in both action-driven franchises and prestige filmmaking, cementing his status as a major attraction for audiences globally.
Forthcoming Initiatives
- Reynolds: “Mayday” comedic action film arriving September 2026
- Momoa: “The Wrecking Crew” released January 2026
- Momoa: “Street Fighter” film adaptation releasing later in 2026
- Momoa: “Dune: Part Three” concluding the sprawling epic in 2026
