

DreamWorks Animation has announced the cast and plot for its new original feature, Forgotten Island, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Written and directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, and inspired by Philippine mythology, Forgotten Island follows two best friends, Jo and Raissa, who find themselves stranded on the magical, forgotten island of Nakali. To escape, they may have to give up their cherished memories of their relationship. Crawford and Mercado previously worked together on the studio’s Puss in Boots: The Last Wish as director and head of story, and The Croods: A New Age as co-directors.
For this third collaboration, the duo will be working with a cast that includes R&B singer H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Lea Salonga, Dave Franco, Manny Jacinto and Jenny Slate.
H.E.R. won the Academy Award for Best Song in 2021 for Fight for You from Judas and the Black Messiah, and recently stepped into acting for the 2023 adaptation of the musical version of The Color Purple. Soberano made her big screen debut in Lisa Frankenstein and was recently heard in Netflix’s animated series Trese. Salonga recently starred in Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends on Broadway and is best known for her role in Miss Saigon, for which she received the Tony Award. She also provided the singing voices for Princess Jasmine and Fa Mulan in Disney’s Aladdin and Mulan in the 90s.
Franco recently starred in the romance horror movie Together and can next be seen in the magician caper sequel, Now You See Me, Now You Don’t. Jacinto appeared in this year’s Freakier Friday and has appeared in a variety of TV shows, such as The Good Place and Star Wars: The Acolyte. Slate recently starred in the FX series Dying for Sex and will next appear in the indie romance film Carousel from director Rachel Lambert.
Forgotten Island will be produced by Mark Swift, who reunites with Crawford and Mercado after The Last Wish and A New Age, with the score being done by Nathan Matthew David.
The film is scheduled for release on September 25, 2026.
