Extinct - What We Know So Far

2021 has served up several excellent animated movies so far. Films like "Luca," "Raya and the Last Dragon," and "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run" provided some great adventures, dazzling action, and much-needed laughs for a year that's been difficult at times for many. Additionally, some of the plots in this year's offering of animated films covered a broad spectrum of topics, from robot rebellions to a superhero squirrel and his human best friend saving the day. 

A potential new entry to this list of 2021 animated greats is "Extinct," a time travel adventure involving a couple of characters that look like the living, breathing, and fuzzy embodiment of Homer Simpson's favorite snack. First announced in September 2019 (via Deadline), "Extinct" is an international collaboration from production studios located in the U.S., China, and Canada. The lighthearted animated movie also boasts a voice cast filled with talented and comedic actors, plus a writer and co-director line-up with major animated TV comedy chops.

Here's everything we know so far about "Extinct."

Given the multi-national collaboration between studios in China, Canada, and the U.S., "Extinct" has the distinction of being released already in certain parts of the world, but not others. The film was released in the U.K. on August 20, 2021, through Sky Cinema's Sky Go service (via The Guardian). As for U.S. audiences, although Sony Pictures is distributing the movie, they have not officially announced a U.S. release date yet. Some sites, like IMDb, list a U.S. release date of October 16, 2021. This could still be the case, especially since the movie has already premiered elsewhere. 

However, it's currently unknown if "Extinct" will (finally!) be released on this date. No U.S. trailer has debuted, nor has there been official confirmation of the listed mid-October premiere date. Similarly, it's unclear if "Extinct" will come out as a streaming-only release, a theatrical release, or a combination of both. 

This is not the first time the "Extinct" release date has changed. Per Deadline, "Extinct" was initially revealed in 2019 with a planned release date for 2020. Per EDM.com, "Extinct" was in post-production in late 2020, and its expected release date was the first half of 2021.

"Extinct" boasts an impressive voice cast of well-known actors. Per Variety, the movie stars Adam DeVine, Rachel Bloom, and Ken Jeong — popular actors fans may have already heard in the movie's Sky TV trailer (via YouTube). DeVine voices the male Flummel Ed, while Bloom voices Ed's sister, a female Flummel Op. Jeong is heard in the trailer as the red-sweater-wearing Pomeranian named Clarance. But, because "Extinct" involves Ed and Op traveling through time and meeting various mystical creatures and animals, the three actors are just the tip of the voice talent iceberg. Also, per the "Extinct" IMDb page, the movie's cast includes Zazie Beetz, Jim Jefferies, Alex Borstein, Reggie Watts, and Catherine O'Hara. Also, via EDM.com, Steve Aoki lends his voice to "Extinct" as a DJ Flummel named Vinny. 

While "Extinct" is a family-friendly film, it should also be heavy on the laughs for all ages thanks to the movie's creative team, all of whom worked on "The Simpsons." Screenwriters Joel H. Cohen, John Frink, and Rob LaZebnik worked as writers on the show. "Extinct" co-directors David Silverman and Raymond S. Persi have previously directed many episodes of "The Simpsons," and Silverman directed the feature-length 2007 movie "The Simpsons." 

"Extinct" takes the concept of time travel but places it within the quirky lens of siblings Op and Ed. According to Timeless Films, who distributed the movie in the U.K., Op and Ed are a part of a race of donut-shaped creatures called Flummels who live on the Galapagos in 1835. During their species' annual Flower Festival, the two accidentally wind up in modern-day Shanghai. It's there that they encounter a dog named Clarance, who helps them get accustomed to the modern world. However, Op and Ed eventually discover that their race somehow became extinct. Since Clarance's owner happens to be a professor who has experimented with time travel, the three embark on an adventure to travel back and save the Flummel siblings' species from extinction.

Although "Extinct" probably won't deeply venture into "timey-wimey" shenanigans like a particular TARDIS-traveling doctor, the two will encounter some unique creatures and points in time. "Extinct" will also delve into the mysterious reason the Flummels' existence ceased. We'll have to see if Op and Ed have what it takes to ensure survival for their race, but their adventure will at least be a humorous one.