Universal Pictures has released new trailer for Illumination’s Migration movie, opening in theaters on December 23, 2023. Illumination is the creator of Minions, Despicable Me, Sing and The Secret Life of Pets.
This holiday season, Migration invites you to take flight into the thrill of the unknown with a funny, feathered family vacation like no other.
The Mallard family is in a bit of rut. While dad Mack is content to keep his family safe paddling around their New England pond forever, mom Pam is eager to shake things up and show their kids — teen son Dax and duckling daughter Gwen — the whole wide world.
After a migrating duck family alights on their pond with thrilling tales of far-flung places, Pam persuades Mack to embark on a family trip, via New York City, to tropical Jamaica.
As the Mallards make their way South for the winter, their well-laid plans quickly go awry. The experience will inspire them to expand their horizons, open themselves up to new friends and accomplish more than they ever thought possible, while teaching them more about each other — and themselves — than they ever imagined.
From a screenplay by Mike White, the Emmy-winning creator of The White Lotus and the screenwriter of School of Rock, the film stars a top-flight comedic cast led by Oscar and Emmy nominee Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick, Eternals) as anxious Mallard dad Mack and Emmy nominee Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games and Pitch Perfect franchises) as Pam, the Mallards’ daring, quick-witted matriarch.
Caspar Jennings plays Dax, the Mallards’ confident and restless son, and, in her feature film debut, Tresi Gazal plays Gwen, the family’s innocent and lovable daughter.
Golden Globe winner Awkwafina (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) voices the scrappy leader of a New York City pigeon gang; Emmy winner and Oscar nominee Carol Kane (The Princess Bride) plays Erin the heron, the first friend that the Mallards make on their journey; and Emmy winner Keegan-Michael Key (The Super Mario Bros. Movie, The Lion King) voices a homesick Jamaican parrot locked away in a Manhattan restaurant.
BAFTA winner David Mitchell (Peep Show) plays the yogic leader of a mysterious duck farm and Emmy winner and Oscar nominee Danny DeVito (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) co-stars as Mack’s curmudgeonly, adventure-averse Uncle Dan.
Directed by Benjamin Renner, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker of Ernest & Celestine and The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales, Migration is a visual spectacle unlike any in Illumination’s acclaimed history, featuring elevated, expressionist artistry and Illumination’s signature subversive humor and authentic heart, unforgettable characters and joyful soundtrack.
Produced by Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri, the Migration movie is about overcoming your fears and opening yourself up to the world and its opportunities.
The film is co-directed by Guylo Homsy (Head of Layout and Cinematography for Sing and Sing 2). The movie is edited by Christian Gazal (Happy Feet, Peter Rabbit) and the production designer is Colin Stimpson (The Secret Life of Pets 2).
Click here or on the image below to watch the trailer!
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills to provide the latest news on streaming, movies, and TV shows. He previously created the websites ComingSoon, SuperHeroHype, and ShockTillYouDrop.