Prepare for an EPIC Summer – New Animated Movie Coming May 24, 2013

This post will have the official information from Twentieth Century Fox Animation / Blue Sky Studios on EPIC, the animated movie coming to theaters May 24, 2013.  The film is based on the children’s books of The Leaf Men and Brave Good Bugs by William Joyce, and is directed by Chris Wedge (Ice Age, Robots). Voices in the film include Amanda Seyfried, Josh Hutcherson, Christoph Waltz, Steven Tyler, Aziz Ansari, Pitbull, Jason Sudeikis, with Beyoncé Knowles and Colin Farrell.  Director Chris Wedge previously won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short in 1999 for Bunny.

EPIC tells the story of an ongoing battle between the forces of good, who keep the natural world alive, and the forces of evil, who wish to destroy it.  When a teenage girl finds herself magically transported into this secret universe, she teams up with an elite band of warriors and a crew of comical, larger-than-life figures, to save their world… and ours.  Continue reading for updates, images, trailers, and more information on EPIC as it becomes available.

Update May 23, 2013

George Gensler provides a spoiler-free review of EPIC – “Many Leaves, One Tree.”  Click here to read George’s review.

Update May 11, 2013

Third trailer released for EPIC, with special introduction by Mub.

Update May 6, 2013

Beyoncé has created an original song, “RISE UP” for the upcoming Twentieth Century Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studios motion picture, EPIC, for which she also voices one of the lead characters.  The song, performed by Beyoncé, is written by Beyoncé and Sia and produced by Hit-Boy and Chase N. Cashe.  The track will be released by Columbia Records.

Beyoncé voices the leader of this magical world – Queen Tara.  Beautiful, agile and strong, Tara isn’t just the Leafmen’s Queen; she’s the life force of the forest, which she presides over with respect, compassion and humor.

Queen Tara (Beyonce Knowles) reigns over Moonhaven, an unseen Eden-like world. Blue Sky Studios - TM and © 2013 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Update March 29, 2013

New images released for EPIC.  Plus a chance to win a trip to Los Angeles or New York City for the film’s premiere and a $500 Epic Threads wardrobe in the Macy’s See Epic. Wear Epic. Be Epic. sweepstakes.

M.K. (Amanda Seyfried) doesn´t understand the madcap antics of her father, Bomba (Jason Sudeikis), as he searches for a hidden world.

Photo courtesy of Blue Sky Studios - TM and © 2013 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Queen Tara (Beyonce Knowles) reigns over Moonhaven, an unseen Eden-like world.

Photo courtesy of Blue Sky Studios - TM and © 2013 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Mandrake (Christoph Waltz) flies into battle to claim the forest he believes should have always been his.

Photo courtesy of Blue Sky Studios - TM and © 2013 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Buffo (Pitbull) is a wheeler and dealer tough-guy toad who plays all the angles: he profits no matter which side wins or loses.

Photo courtesy of Blue Sky Studios - TM and © 2013 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Grub (Chris O´Dowd), Mub (Aziz Ansari), Ronin (Colin Farrell) and Nod (Josh Hutcherson) prepare to aid a fallen comrade.

Photo courtesy of Blue Sky Studios - TM and © 2013 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Update March 25, 2013

Behind-the-scenes featurette with Beyoncé Knowles discussing voicing Queen Tara for the movie EPIC.

Update March 22, 2013

Second trailer released for EPIC.

Update March 3, 2013

International poster and new images released for EPIC.

“Just because you haven’t seen something doesn’t mean it’s not there.”

Bomba (Jason Sudeikis) and daughter MK (Amanda Seyfried) examine one of his discoveries. Blue Sky Studios - TM and © 2013 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

MK (Amanda Seyfried) encounters a slug named Mub (Aziz Ansari), a self-described "ladies´ man." Blue Sky Studios - TM and © 2013 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.

We are the Leafmen, protectors of the forest, Epic Heroes.

Blue Sky Studios - TM and © 2013 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved

When the forest and his beloved Queen come under siege, Ronin (Colin Farrell) takes to the skies to protect them. Blue Sky Studios - TM and © 2013 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

When the stakes are high, Nod (Josh Hutcherson) discovers what it takes to be a true hero. Blue Sky Studios - TM and © 2013 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved

Mandrake (Christoph Waltz) flies into battle to claim the forest he believes should have always been his. Blue Sky Studios - TM and © 2013 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Update January 29, 2013

Full trailer released for EPIC.

Original article follows below…

From Twentieth Century Fox Animation/ Blue Sky Studios Press Release:

EPIC is a 3D CG action-adventure comedy that reveals a hidden world unlike any other.  From the creators of ICE AGE and RIO, EPIC tells the story of an ongoing battle deep in the forest between the forces of good and the forces of evil.  When a teen age girl finds herself magically transported into this secret universe, she must band together with a rag-tag team of fun and whimsical characters in order to save their world… and ours.

The film stars Beyoncé Knowles, Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson, Amanda Seyfried, and Johnny Knoxville – in theaters everywhere May 24th, 2013.

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