by REERA YOO | @reeraboo
editor@charactermedia.com
Illumination Entertainment, the production company behind Minions and Despicable Me, has signed a first-look deal with South Korean animation studio Mofac Alfred, reports Deadline.
Helmed by Korean writer, director and animator Woo Kyung-min, Mofac Alfred is one of South Korea’s leading animation and motion graphic studios. With the newly minted deal, Illumination plans to option the rights to Woo’s award-winning short film Johnny Express.
Set in 2150, Johnny Express follows a clumsy delivery man in space as he encounters strange planets and hilarious mishaps on his delivery route.
The collaboration between two studios began when Illumination’s CEO, Chris Meledandri, traveled across Asia to support the Minions debut. Meledandri visited Woo at the Mofac Alfred studio in Korea, and the partnership solidified. According to Deadline, Illumination hopes to adapt Mofac Alfred projects into full-length feature films.
Meanwhile, Minions has already grossed $6.2 million in Thursday previews and earned $141 million in foreign box offices, according to Variety. The Despicable Me spinoff is expected to dominate the U.S. box office when it hits theaters this weekend.
You can watch Johnny Express, the short film, below:
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Featured image captured via YouTube
