Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, and Evan Goldberg have long talked about an idea for an R-rated animated film, and now it appears that the raunchy pic will finally come to fruition. Sony Pictures announced today that it will partner with Annapurna Pictures on Sausage Party, which was written by Rogen, Goldberg, Kyle Hunter, and Ariel Shaffir based on an idea by Rogen, Goldberg, and Hill. The story follows one sausage’s “quest to discover the truth about his existence,” as he falls out of a shopping cart and, along with his friends, embarks on a journey to return to his aisle before the 4th of July sale.
Voice casting has yet to be announced, but Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2) and Greg Tiernan will be directing the pic with an eye towards a 2015 release date. Rogen and Goldberg made their directorial debut with this summer’s excellent This Is the End and are currently helming the Rogen/James Franco comedy The Interview. Hit the jump for the full press release.
Here’s the press release:
SETH ROGEN AND EVAN GOLDBERG LET IT ALL HANG OUT WITH “SAUSAGE PARTY,”
AN OUTRAGEOUS, NOT-FOR-KIDS ANIMATED MOVIE,
FROM SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT, ANNAPURNA PICTURES AND POINT GREY
CULVER CITY, Calif., September 24, 2013 – Sony Pictures Entertainment and Annapurna Pictures will partner on what is expected to be an R-rated animated film titled Sausage Party, written by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg & Kyle Hunter & Ariel Shaffir, from a story by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg & Jonah Hill, to be directed by Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2, Monsters vs. Aliens, Madagascar 3) & Greg Tiernan, it was announced today by Doug Belgrad, president of Columbia Pictures, and Hannah Minghella, president of Production for the studio, and by Megan Ellison. Annapurna Pictures and Point Grey Pictures are producing.
After Point Grey and Annapurna packaged the film and presented it to the studio, Sony agreed to co-finance it with Annapurna. The film will be produced by Megan Ellison, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Conrad Vernon. The executive producers are Jonah Hill, James Weaver, Kyle Hunter, and Ariel Shaffir. Nitrogen Studios Canada Inc., in Vancouver, will handle all CG animation, design, production and post-production. Sony Pictures will release the film worldwide and the studio is eyeing a release date in 2015.
Sausage Party is a raunchy animated movie about one sausage's quest to discover the truth about his existence. After falling out of a shopping cart, our hero sausage and his new friends embark on a perilous journey through the supermarket to get back to their aisles before the 4th of July sale.
Commenting on the announcement, Minghella said, “We’re thrilled to be back in business with Seth and Evan. This project has all the irreverent, insightful and risqué R-rated humor we have come to expect from them. Matching their unique comic sensibility with an animated film is a fun and inspired idea. We are confident Seth, Evan, Conrad and Greg will deliver one of the most memorable animated movies of all time.”
Rogen and Goldberg most recently wrote and directed the $100 million hit Sony Pictures comedy This Is The End and are currently working on upcoming films The Interview (also for Sony Pictures) and The Neighbors.
Andrea Giannetti will oversee the project for the studio along with Minghella. David Distenfeld will oversee the project for Annapurna.