With the characters set for their third outing on the big screen in next summer’s Madagascar 3, DreamWorks Animation is moving forward on the previously announced spinoff feature film, focusing on the popular penguins. Now, The Hollywood Reporter has word that Simon Smith is boarding the project as director.
Smith, who previously co-directed Bee Movie, will direct the as-of-yet-untitled project with a script from Megamind writers Alan J. Schoolcraft and Brent Simons.
Late last year, DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg confirmed that a fourth Madagascar film is already in the planning stages and would finish off the series. It is still unconfirmed whether this Penguins feature would take the place of that project or if both will be developed concurrently.
In addition to their appearance in the three Madagascar films, the penguins have been the subject of both animated shorts and a Nickelodeon television series.
