Dreamworks Announces Original Filipino-Themed Film ‘Forgotten Island’
DreamWorks Animation’s announced a new original film today: Forgotten Island. The film will be released by Universal Pictures on September 25, 2026.
Forgotten Island is an incredible rarity for Dreamworks Animation, which rarely produces original films that are not based on a franchise, pre-existing IP, or an adaptation of literary material. In fact, over the last 15 years, the studio has released just five completely original films — the most recent of which was Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, an above-average effort that failed to gain traction at the box office and earned just $46 million worldwide.
Plot and details of the film are being kept under wraps, but it is described as a broad party comedy adventure that transports the film’s protagonists to a long forgotten, magical island rooted in Philippine mythology.
The film is from directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, who also wrote the film. Crawford is a studio veteran who directed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and The Croods: A New Age, while Mercado, who’s Filipino American and making his directorial debut, is a frequent collaborator of Crawford’s. He was co-director on The Last Wish and head of story of A New Age.
Forgotten Island is produced by Mark Swift (The Croods: A New Age, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish).
Correction: The original version of this article said that Dreamworks had only released one original film in the last fifteen years; the studio has released five original films in that period.