Just over two months before its slated to hit theaters nationwide, Sony Pictures Animation is moving its animated musical Vivo to Netflix.
The film, which stars Lin-Manuel Miranda and features new music written and performed by the multi-hyphenate, was originally slated for a June 4 theatrical bow.
Netflix has picked up all of the global rights to the film, except for China, according to a new report from Deadline.
Vivo to Netflix: Just over two months before its slated to hit theaters nationwide, Sony Pictures Animation is moving its animated musical Vivo to Netflix
Lin-Manuel stars: The film, which stars Lin-Manuel Miranda and features new music written and performed by the multi-hyphenate, was originally slated for a June 4 theatrical bow
Global rights: Netflix has picked up all of the global rights to the film, except for China, according to a new report from Deadline
This new project is not included in Sony Pictures’ recent $1 billion blockbuster deal with Netflix which provides an exclusive to Sony’s theatrical titles to Netflix starting in 2022.
This deal is said to be more akin to Netflix’s recent pick-up of another Sony Pictures projects, Kevin Hart’s Fatherhood.
With that deal, Netflix gets the first release window for the film, which will be on the streaming service.
Blockbuster deal: This new project is not included in Sony Pictures’ recent $1 billion blockbuster deal with Netflix which provides an exclusive to Sony’s theatrical titles to Netflix starting in 2022
Sony Pictures will then retain all home entertainment and linear TV rights in all other territories plus the theatrical rights in China, after the exclusive Netflix window.
The report added that the new release date has yet to be determined, so it seems unlikely it will still debut on June 4.
Vivo follows the title character, a ‘rainforest honey bear’ known as a ‘kinkajou’ who spends his days playing music in Havana with his owner Andres (Juan de Marcos Gonzalez).
Title character: Vivo follows the title character, a ‘rainforest honey bear’ known as a ‘kinkajou’ who spends his days playing music in Havana with his owner Andres (Juan de Marcos Gonzalez)
Andres receives a letter from his former partner, the now-famous Marta Sandoval (Gloria Estefan), inviting him to a farewell concert in Miami in hopes of reconnecting.
After tragedy strikes, Andres sends Vivo to deliver a ‘love letter’ to Marta in the form of a song, which he wrote years ago but never showed her.
Vivo enlists the help of a young girl named Gabi (Ynairaly Simo), described as, ‘an energetic tween who bounces to the beat of her own offbeat drum’ to get to Miami.
Tragedy: After tragedy strikes, Andres sends Vivo to deliver a ‘love letter’ to Marta in the form of a song, which he wrote years ago but never showed her
Kirk DeMicco (The Croods) directs Vivo from a script he co-wrote with Quiara Alegría Hudes, who co-wrote the book with Miranda for In the Heights.
‘Bringing Vivo to life has been an incredible artistic journey. I couldn’t ask for better creative partners than Kirk, Quiara, Alex and the entire team at Sony Animation,’ Miranda said in a statement.
‘I’m so excited Vivo will have a home at Netflix, where kids of all ages will be able to enjoy the film’s songs and adventures again and again,’ Miranda added.
Excited: ‘I’m so excited Vivo will have a home at Netflix, where kids of all ages will be able to enjoy the film’s songs and adventures again and again,’ Miranda added
DeMicco offered his own statement, which read, ‘Inspired by the words and music of Lin-Manuel, Quiara, and Alex, hundreds of artists at Sony Pictures Animation worked through uncharted and difficult times, bringing passion and beauty to every frame of the film.’
‘And as a musical, Vivo is a love letter to Latin music and this movie couldn’t exist without the heartfelt work of our vocal talent, including Gloria Estefan, Juan de Marcos, Zoe Saldana, Brian Tyree Henry, Ynairaly Simo and many others,’ he continued.
‘I speak for everyone who helped make Vivo when I say we couldn’t be happier that our film can soon be enjoyed safely by millions of families on Netflix,’ he concluded.
Incredible journey: ‘Bringing Vivo to life has been an incredible artistic journey. I couldn’t ask for better creative partners than Kirk, Quiara, Alex and the entire team at Sony Animation,’ Miranda said in a statement