Zendaya’s ‘Duck Duck Goose’ Acquired by Open Road Films

Animated family comedy also features voices of Jim Gaffigan and Lance Lim

Zendaya Duck Duck Goose
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Open Road Films has acquired U.S. rights to the animated family comedy “Duck Duck Goose,” featuring the voices of Zendaya, Jim Gaffigan and Lance Lim, from Original Force.

The announcement was made Wednesday by Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films and Harley Zhao, President and CEO of Original Force. Original Force produced and financed the animated film.

“Duck Duck Goose” is directed by Christopher Jenkins and written by Jenkins and Rob Muir. Penney Finkelman Cox and Sandra Rabins produced.

The film follows a high-flying bachelor goose named Peng (Gaffigan) who is injured in flight and finds himself saddled with two ducklings (voiced by Zendaya and Lim) on a long journey south.

Greg Proops, Natasha Leggero, Reggie Watts, Diedrich Bader, Jennifer Grey, Rick Overton, Craig Ferguson, Stephen Fry and Carl Reiner also voice characters in the film.

“We are thrilled to be in business with Harley Zhao and the team at Original Force,” said Ortenberg in a statement. “Sandy and Penney are legends in animation having launched Sony Pictures Animation and Dreamworks Animation, and their impressive track record developing and producing commercial and critical hits in this space speaks for itself. In addition to being a wholly original story filled with lovably funny and relatable characters that the entire family will enjoy, the animation in ‘Duck Duck Goose’ is truly superb and the project is a welcome addition to our 2018 slate.”

The deal was negotiated on behalf of Open Road Films by Ortenberg, General Counsel Marni Richman and Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Productions Lejo Pet. Scott Edel from Loeb & Loeb negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers. GFM Films and GFM Animation is handling international sales on the film at Cannes Film Festival.

Open Road will release the film on April 20, 2018.

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