The Croods Family Tree - What We Know So Far
DreamWorks Animation has put out some massive hits over the years, dominating the big screen in the early 2000s with features such as "Shrek" and "Madagascar." As the years have gone on, the studio hasn't held back from adding more fan favorites to its résumé (among several bombs), one of the most prominent being 2013's "The Croods:" a family comedy set during the prehistoric age, centering on the titular family's struggles to survive not only an exceptionally dangerous world but each other as well. With a unique story, strong cast, and an animation style that was easy on the eyes, it should come as no surprise that the film was a home run.
Currently sitting at a 72% fresh critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Croods" turned out to be a prime watch for both parents and children. Its box office numbers further drove this point home, with it grossing just over $587 million on a budget that fell between $135 and $175 million. Sure enough, this runaway success led to the eventual release of a Netflix series called "Dawn of the Croods" and a silver screen sequel, "The Croods: A New Age," which saw release in 2020. As a consequence of its mid-COVID-19 pandemic arrival, it didn't make nearly as much as its predecessor, but it found its way into the hearts of fans, new and old, all the same.
Many are hoping for a third cinematic outing for the Crood clan, but until that happens, they do have a new television series coming down the pipeline. Here's everything we know about "The Croods Family Tree" so far.
When will The Croods Family Tree release?
Despite its success by virtually all metrics, it took a significant amount of time for "The Croods" to be accompanied by "The Croods: A New Age." For seven years, fans of the budding animated franchise had to wait for the next chapter, watching hopelessly as two "How to Train Your Dragon" sequels, the first two "Trolls" movies, "Mr. Peabody & Sherman," and several other productions made it to the cinema first. But, thankfully, eager audiences won't have to sit and twiddle their thumbs for too long this time around since "The Croods Family Tree" is right around the corner.
According to Coming Soon, the Croods will return to the television world on September 23, 2021. All six episodes of the series will premiere through both Hulu and Peacock, though whether they'll all drop at once or week by week is not known. Don't have either of these streaming services? No worries, as Hulu is currently offering a one-month free trial for new subscribers, and Peacock offers a free plan with paid ones beginning at only $5 per month. Not to mention, both boast extensive libraries of movies and TV, giving you plenty to sift through once you wrap up your watch of "The Croods Family Tree."
The cast of The Croods Family Tree is largely unfamiliar but solid
As noted previously, a feather in the cap of the first two "Croods" films was their stacked voice casts. Nicolas Cage played Crood patriarch Grug, Emma Stone portrayed his daughter Eep, Ryan Reynolds voiced her boyfriend Guy, and the list goes on. The downside to this, however, is that for a much smaller, cheaper production like "The Croods Family Tree," the number of A-list actors has significantly shrunk, and their parts have been handed over to different people. Although, that's not to say the upcoming series is lacking in the talent department.
First and foremost, Kiff Vandenheuvel will take over for Nicolas Cage as Grug, with Amy Landecker taking Catherine Keener's spot as his wife, Ugga. Ally Dixon is the voice of Eep, Artemis Pebdani will play Gran, and AJ Locascio is signed on as Thunk, covering for Emma Stone, the late Cloris Leachman, and Clark Duke, respectively. Additionally, Darin Brooks is the new Guy, Matthew Waterson will put a fresh spin on Phil Betterman, and Amy Rosoff is voicing Hope Betterman. That makes Kelly Marie Tran, the actress behind Dawn Betterman, the only big-screen actor reprising their role for the show.
What to expect from The Croods Family Tree's story
With its release date and cast in mind, what will "The Croods Family Tree" be all about? Coming Soon notes that the series "continues the ever-evolving story of the Croods and the Bettermans, as they learn to live together on the most idyllic farm in prehistory" and that the aforementioned families will have to "overcome their differences to turn a treehouse divided into a tree home united." To build on this vague outline, the official Season 1 trailer gives us a glimpse at the specifics of the show.
Making good on the promise of the official synopsis, "The Croods Family Tree" teaser sees both families put their differences aside and attempt to coexist in a shared space. Unsurprisingly, the Croods' commitment to old, outdated survival methods will cause some friction with the Bettermans, who are all about modern philosophies and embracing change. This is shown a handful of times in the trailer as Grug and Phil go head-to-head and Hope struggles to teach Ugga about mindfulness. All the while, Guy and Eep happily continue their relationship that found its roots in the first "Croods" film.
All in all, "The Croods Family Tree" promises to be a wacky, brisk watch for all members of the family and will surely make for a fine addition to the existing "Croods" canon.