‘Puss in Boots 2’ to Be Directed by ‘Spider-Verse’ Oscar Winner Bob Persichetti

Persichetti was head of story on the first “Puss in Boots” before directorial debut with “Spider-Man” film

puss in boots dreamworks animation
Universal/DreamWorks

Just two days after winning an Academy Award for “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” Bob Persichetti has signed on with DreamWorks Animation to direct a sequel to the 2011 “Shrek” spin-off “Puss In Boots.”

Persichetti, a veteran of animation for more than two decades, has worked in various capacities on films with DreamWorks Animation and Disney before making his directorial debut with the acclaimed “Spider-Verse” alongside co-directors Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman.  He served as head of story and voiced a role in the original Puss in Boots.”

Latifa Ouaou, who was a producer on the original “Puss in Boots,” will oversee development of this film on behalf of Illumination and Chris Meledandri, working closely with the DWA leadership team.

Voiced by Antonio Banderas, Puss in Boots made his debut in “Shrek 2” in 2004, appearing in the following two “Shrek” sequels before getting his own solo film that grossed $555 million worldwide in 2011. A sequel was once slated for release in 2018 but was removed from DreamWorks’ slate in 2015. This project does not yet have a release date.

Universal will distribute the film after purchasing DreamWorks in 2016. The first DWA film released by Universal, “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,” has so far grossed $277 million worldwide with a $55 million domestic opening this past weekend.

Persichetti is represented by UTA. The signing was first reported by Deadline.

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