Nearly two years after STX Entertainment announced itsUglydolls animated moviewas happening, the studio has finally found the right director. STX announced at CinemaCon today thatRobert Rodriguezwill be directing this animated adaptation, and the studio also revealed the first poster on the convention floor. The studio has also set a release date of August 04, 2025, which as of now is otherwise unoccupied. The film falls just a week after Marvel’sAvengers 4on July 07, 2025, and two weeks before Warner Bros.‘Minecraftand Universal’sDoctor Dolitteon May 24.
Deadlinereports that STX will produce this film alongsideGigi Pritzkerand OddLot Entertainment, whileDavid Horvath, who created the Uglydoll line, will executive produce with his Pretty Ugly LLC partnerDrew Matilsky. BothDavid HorvathandDrew Matilskyco-created the Uglydolls in 2001 withSun-Min Kim, which started withDavid Horvathsigned a letter to his college sweetheartSun-Min Kimwith a drawing of a monster with unique proportions. Themonsterwould eventually become the Uglydoll known as Wage, withSun-Min KimsendingDavid Horvathback a plush doll featuring Wage’s likeness, which ended up becoming the basis of this successful company, and lead toDavid HorvathandSun-Min Kimgetting married.
Populated by satirical, playful, and off-kilter characters that go by names like Wage, Babo, Ice-Bat and Wedgehead, the “uglyverse” is a world in which the traditional definition of “ugly” is turned on its head as it celebrates characters who are distinctive, special and different. Thisanimated moviewas first set up by Universal Pictures in 2013, when Illumination founderChristopher Meledandriwas set to produce. That incarnation never moved forward, and just two years later, STX announced this project will serve as the foundation for their new animation division.
WhileRobert Rodriguezis set to direct, it hasn’t been revealed yet who will write the screenplay, or if thisbig screen adaptationwill be based on a specificUglydollstory. Along with creating these characters,David Horvathhas also authored 12 Uglydoll books, includingHow to Draw Ugly,Guide to the UglyverseandThe Ugly Guide to Being Alive and Staying That Way, along with a series ofBossy Bearbooks. It’s possible that this adaptation may be based on any of these books, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet since no story details have been released.
This news also comes just days after we reported thatRobert Rodriguezwill direct theEscape From New Yorkremake for 20th Century Fox, which has a script byLuthercreatorNeil Cross. 20th Century Fox hasn’t issued a release date forEscape From New Yorkyet, it’s possible that thisUglydollsmovie may take precedence, since there is already a release date lined up, but that has yet to be confirmed. STX hasn’t announced any voice cast members forUglydollsquite yet, but with a release date and a director in place, we certainly may learn more about this project soon. Until then, take a look at the newUglydollsposter that debuted at CinemaCon.
