‘The Nut Job 2’ Gets A New Release Date

The Nut Job 2 has a new release date: May 19, 2017. Open Road Films had originally slated the sequel for January 15, 2016.

The first Nut Job, released in January, 2014, was lambasted by film critics for its clunky characterizations and retrograde storytelling, but kiddie animation often turns out to be critic-proof. The Nut Job went on to gross $121 million globally, and tacked on an additional $22 million in U.S. home video sales. That’s pretty good for a film that cost around $43 million to make.

In the sequel, Surly Squirrel (Will Arnett) and his animal buddies team up against an evil mayor who wants to bulldoze their park and construct an amusement park in its place.

Interestingly, Peter Lepeniotis, who directed the original film, and also created the 2005 short, Surly Squirrel, on which the franchise is based, did not return to direct the sequel. Cal Brunker (Escape From Planet Earth) is helming Nut Job 2 from a script he co-wrote with Bob Barlen and Scott Bindley. Korean studio Redrover Co. Ltd, Canadian outfit Toonbox Entertainment, and Gulfstream Pictures are handling the production.