It’s like DreamWorks already forgot they’re releasing ‘Kung Fu Panda’ this weekend. First the new cast announcement and now they’re sending out the first production stills of ‘Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.’ Interesting timing.

Not much changed since the first one. Except for the penguins, these shots could’ve just as well been taken from the first movie. I wonder how much of the budget goes into the ‘expensive voices’ of the characters.

‘Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa’ is completing its cast. No, ‘Kung Fu Panda’ isn’t the only animation DreamWorks is releasing this year. And this one might even be bigger. We already saw how they signed a deal with IMAX to release the movie worldwide, but more deals are in the making. Bernie Mac and Alec Baldwin just signed for two of the voices. They join Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and David Schwimmer.

I didn’t actually know this, but ‘Madagascar’ was a wild success in 2005. It made just under $200 million in the US, but topped that with $340 million overseas. A $533 worldwide gross certainly justifies the sequel (from a business standpoint), which will hit theaters November 7.

We already saw the ‘You Don’t Mess with the Zohan’ tracking numbers earlier today. But how about that other comedy, ‘Kung Fu Panda’? Well, the DreamWorks animation is looking at a better opening than Adam Sandler, that’s for sure. Tracking indicates an opening somewhere around $60 million.

Continue reading ‘Kung Fu Panda’ box office tracking numbers