'Angry Birds' Movie Update: Rovio, Sony team up for a 2016 release; $185 Million budget ensures AAA voice talents

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"Angry Birds" Movie will get a massive budget as pre-production starts. Rovio will be teaming up with Sony as they plan to release the movie adaptation of the hit game this 2016.

Rovio CEO Pekka Rantala goes right to the point saying that people "can accuse us of many things, but not of lack of courage." This was after the Finnish entertainment company behind the mobile phone game "Angry Birds" announced that they would be pouring in a massive $185 million budget for a movie about little birds flinging themselves at green pigs. It was reported that bulk of that budget will go towards marketing the movie. First rumblings about a possible movie based on the game started in August of 2010.

The Vision

The movie which is being developed via a partnership between Sony and Rovio is slated to be released sometime in 2016. Already, Rantala has grand plans looking to be the Disney of the 21st century. He went on to say that pouring money on the project is not without any basis. "The film is getting very positive reactions from major retail and licensing partners, as well as from consumer focus groups, which will have a positive impact on licensing in the coming years. We expect some major announcements of partnerships," Rantala said.

The first Angry Birds game was released in 2009 as a mobile game and it has captured the attention of the whole world. To date, it is still the most downloaded paid app of all time. Plenty of spinoffs have been developed to take advantage of the game's popularity including a Stars Wars themed one.

The Cast

Big names have already been cast to voice the characters in the upcoming Angry Birds Movie. Game of Thrones' Peter Dinklage and Saturday Night Live's Jason Sudeikis leads the way. Also confirmed to be part of the movie are Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph, Josh Gad, Tony Hale, and Danny McBride. Clay Kaytis and Fergal Reilly will be co-directing the animated film.

The announcement that the movie will have that kind of financial backing would make it the most expensive film made in Finland. Whether the company will see good return on this investment remains to be seen.

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