‘Ratchet & Clank’ Movie Finally Gets Distributor and Release Date
The long-awaited Ratchet & Clank movie, based on the popular PlayStation video game series created by Insomniac Games, finally has a release date and distributor.
Focus Features, who also distributes Laika’s films, will be the US distributor for Ratchet & Clank, with a nationwide release slated for April 29, 2016. Ratchet & Clank is produced by Rainmaker Entertainment and Blockade Entertainment.
A big screen outing for the bipedal feline critter and diminutive robot was first announced in 2013, with a trailer first revealed at E3 2014. The film is partly funded by the Hong Kong-based company CNHK Media Ltd.
From the official release:
“Ratchet & Clank tells the story of two unlikely heroes as they struggle to stop a vile alien named Chairman Drek from destroying every planet in the Solana Galaxy. Ratchet is the last of his kind – a foolhardy “lombax” who has grown up alone on a backwater planet with no family of his own. Clank is a pint-sized robot with more brains than brawn. When the two stumble upon a dangerous weapon capable of destroying entire planets, they must join forces with a team of colorful heroes called The Galactic Rangers in order to save the galaxy. Along the way, they will learn about heroism, friendship, and the importance of discovering one’s own identity.”
The movie will be directed by Kevin Munroe (TMNT) and co-directed by Jericca Cleland. The film’s voice cast, also announced this week, includes Paul Giamatti, John Goodman, Rosario Dawson, and Sylvester Stallone, with Ratchet, Clank, Nefarious, and Captain Qwark voiced by the same actors as in the games. The script was developed with former Insomniac Games and Ratchet & Clank senior writer T.J. Fixman, with original Ratchet & Clank character designer Dave Guertin and weapon/vehicle designer Greg Baldwin also working on designs.
The Ratchet & Clank video game series launched 13 years ago on the PS2. A new Ratchet & Clank game for the PS4 is due for release spring 2016.