DreamWorks sets date for film based on Philippine mythology

DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures have announced a release date for Forgotten Island, a new original animated film rooted in Philippine mythology. The film is set to debut worldwide on September 25, 2026, and will mark a rare non-franchise, non-adaptation release from the studio.

Directed and written by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, the film is described as a “broad party comedy adventure” set on a long-forgotten magical island drawn from Filipino folklore, according to Deadline. While plot specifics remain under wraps, Forgotten Island promises a vibrant narrative departure from the studio’s franchise-heavy catalog.

The project also marks the directorial debut of Januel Mercado, a Filipino American filmmaker and longtime DreamWorks collaborator. Mercado previously co-directed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and served as head of story on The Croods: A New Age, both directed by Crawford and produced by Mark Swift, who returns to produce Forgotten Island.

As Cartoon Brew notes, this film will be one of only a handful of fully original DreamWorks features in the last 15 years, signaling a renewed investment in fresh storytelling at the studio.

Forgotten Island will open the same week as Warner Bros.’ untitled release and Sony’s Resident Evil reboot, but currently holds the wide-release spotlight for its launch weekend.

With its cultural inspiration and original concept, Forgotten Island is poised to expand DreamWorks’ global storytelling reach and deepen the representation of Southeast Asian narratives in mainstream animation.