Netflix Acquires "Marmaduke" Animated Feature Film for May Release

Originally slated for release in 2020 but delayed due to the aborted COVID-19, the new animated film "Marmaduke" will arrive on Netflix in major territories on May 6.

Produced by Andrews McMeel Entertainment and Legacy Classics, the fully animated film follows Marmaduke, voiced by Saturday Night Live's Pete Davidson, as he trains for the Westminster Dog Show The film depicts Marmaduke, voiced by Pete Davidson of Saturday Night Live, training for the Westminster Dog Show. The trailer released today briefly shows how this sleepy dog is thoroughly trained and how Marmaduke looks after competing in the competition.

It also introduces Marmaduke's rival, Zeus, voiced by J.K. Simmons. Zeus is a typical show dog who will stop at nothing to win. Other voice actors include David Koechner ("The Office," "Anchorman"), Jason Anthony, and Shelby Young.

"Cumbersome and mischievous, Marmaduke has a big heart, but he can't stay out of trouble! and you can read a brief excerpt on the Netflix After School YouTube channel, where the trailer is posted.

"Marmaduke" is directed by Mark A. Z. Dippe ("The Reef 2: High Tide," "Spawn") and co-directed by Matt Phillip Whelan (VFX supervisor on "American Gods," "The Turning") and Yongki Lee. Animation produced by Canada/China/Korea-based Storyberry Inc.

for the world except China, Hong Kong, Italy, Spain, Andorra, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Iceland, Poland, CIS, former Yugoslavia, Baltics, Israel and MENA and was acquired by Netflix. The film is based on a popular newspaper comic strip created by Brad Anderson in 1954 and drawn until his death in 2015.

Marmaduke IP was also previously adapted into a live-action/animation hybrid film, released by 20th Century Fox in 2010 and starring Owen Wilson, Emma Stone, and George Lopez. That version used live-action animals with faces replaced by CG.