Skip to main content

Angry Birds movie set to soar in 2016 with star-studded cast

The birds of the Angry Birds Movie.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Star Wars: Episode VII may be one of the most anticipated movies of 2015, but the year after could belong to the Angry Birds. Celebrating one billion birds being slung from a catapult in its games, Rovio has revealed an all-star cast list to whet our appetite regarding the upcoming animated-movie-of-the-game. There are six major names already signed on, and these are Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Danny McBride, Bill Hader, Peter Dinklage, and Maya Rudolph.

Horrible Bosses star Sudeikis has bagged the lead role, and will voice Red, a bird with some temper issues, a plot twist we never saw coming at all. He’ll be joined by Gad’s Chuck, the speedy yellow bird, and McBride’s Bomb. Bill Hader is down to play a pig, while Maya Rudolph will add her voice to Matilda, the little-known name of the egg-laying white bird. (Clearly the dream role for someone who has worked with Sam Mendes.) Finally, Peter Dinklage will bring his talent to the Mighty Eagle.

Recommended Videos

Rovio has also revealed an extensive list of supporting cast members, most notably Arrested Development’s Tony Hale, along with Keegan-Michael Key, Kate McKinnon, Danielle Brooks, and Jillian Bell. YouTube comedic team Smosh are also onboard, although there’s no information on the roles they’ll play.

Set to be directed by Fergal Reilly and Clay Kaytis, both confirmed at the end of last year, the 3D CGI movie will be written by The Simpsons and King of the Hill writer Jon Vitti. While Vitti’s credentials are solid, the directors are new to the job, having in the past worked on the animation and storyboarding side of hits such as Wreck It Ralph and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

Angry Birds will be released on July 1, 2016.

Andy Boxall
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
5 sci-fi movies on Netflix you need to watch in January 2025
Three men have a talk in Inception.

Netflix is starting 2025 on a high note with its sci-fi collection. Netflix's original content has been pushed aside for a swarm of licensed movies from other streamers. Take Dune and Dune: Part Two (more on that below). The two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel has primarily lived on Max. Now, the sci-fi epics are on Netflix and will certainly find a new audience.

That's the power Netflix can provide for a movie. Netflix continues to have the biggest audience among the streamers, and popular sci-fi movies will continue to benefit from its reach. For more sci-fi, check out our recommendations, including a polarizing Kevin Costner title, an innovative heist drama, and a fantasy buddy cop tale.

Read more
3 PBS shows you should watch in January 2025
Kate Phillips in Miss Scarlet.

PBS has such a powerhouse lineup in January that we weren't able to find a place for Antiques Roadshow when narrowing the choices down to three ... and that's one of the top shows on the Public Broadcast System! PBS has endured for decades by giving viewers programming options that the broadcast and cable channels wouldn't. And that's still true even in the streaming era.

Our picks for the three PBS shows you should watch in January include two British dramas returning for their fifth seasons, as well as the 11th season of another breakout hit.

Read more
Prime Target trailer: Leo Woodall is the world’s greatest mind in Apple TV+ thriller
A man sits down with a notebook and looks up in Prime Target.

Numbers are the greatest weapon in the trailer for Prime Target, a new Apple TV+ conspiracy thriller starring Leo Woodall and Quintessa Swindell.

Edward Brooks (Woodall) is a gifted mathematician searching for sequences in prime numbers. "What if numbers didn't behave the way we assume?" Edward tells his professor (David Morrissey). What Edward doesn't realize is that his work could be the foundation for a virtual key that opens every digital lock in the world. If this weapon gets into the wrong hands, it will lead to worldwide panic and chaos.

Read more