Grok Entertainment Desk | January 29, 2024
In a tail-wagging announcement that's sure to delight fans of Dav Pilkey's bestselling graphic novel series, Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation have officially locked in the release date for the highly anticipated animated feature Dog Man. The film, a spin-off from the beloved Captain Underpants universe, will bark its way into theaters on Friday, January 31, 2025.
The project, first revealed in development back in December 2020, reunites Pilkey with director Peter Hastings – the Emmy-winning talent behind The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants and Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness. Hastings, who is writing and directing, brings his deep experience with Pilkey's whimsical world to the big screen, promising a faithful yet cinematic adaptation.
At the heart of the story is Dog Man himself: part dog, part man, all hero. When a dedicated police officer and his loyal K-9 partner are critically injured in the line of duty, a groundbreaking (and slightly bonkers) surgery fuses them together, creating the ultimate crime-fighter. With a super-sniffer for justice – and an unfortunate distraction for squirrels – Dog Man vows to protect and serve while pursuing his arch-nemesis, the cunning feline supervillain Petey the Cat.
But things get purr-fectly complicated when Petey clones himself, unleashing an adorable yet chaotic kitten version that flips the script on good, evil, and everything in between. Expect high-energy action, heartfelt moments, and Pilkey's signature flip-o-rama style brought to vibrant animated life.
Produced by Karen Foster (Spirit Untamed), Dog Man marks DreamWorks Animation's exciting kickoff to 2025's family film slate. The January 31 slot positions it perfectly after the holiday rush and ahead of spring blockbusters, giving kids (and kids-at-heart) a mid-winter dose of laughter and adventure.
Fans have been eagerly awaiting this adaptation since the Dog Man books exploded onto the scene as a Captain Underpants spin-off in 2016, racking up over 60 million copies sold worldwide. With its blend of goofy humor, heroic antics, and themes of friendship and redemption, the movie is poised to capture the same magic that made Pilkey a household name.
