Laika/Focus announce “Kubo and the Two Strings

Laika and Focus Features have announced the first film out of their new three-film pact: Kubo and the Two Strings.

The project, set in ancient Japan, features a star-studded voice cast including Matthew McConaughey, Charlize Theron, Rooney Mara, Ralph Fiennes and Brenda Vaccaro and will see Laika president and CEO Travis Knight make his directorial debut with the project.

From an original screenplay by Marc Haimes and ParaNorman writer-director Chris Butler, Kubo and the Two Strings follows kindhearted Kubo, who lives a humble life devotedly caring for his mother in their sleepy shoreside village. But when a spirit from the past catches up with him to enforce an age-old vendetta, Kubo suddenly finds himself on the run from gods and monsters. Knight is producing Kubo and the Two Strings, which will be a 3D stop-motion and CG hybrid, with Arianne Sutner (ParaNorman).

The film has been set for release on Aug. 19, 2016. As with previous Laika-Focus collaborations The Boxtrolls (2014), Coraline (2009) and ParaNorman (2012), Focus will release the film in the U.S. and Universal Pictures International will release the movie abroad.