DreamWorks’ ‘Forgotten Island’ Is Bringing Philippine Mythology to the Big Screen This Month, and Here’s Everything We Know About Plot & Cast

Animation studios have spent years mining fairy tales, folklore, and cultural mythologies from around the world for fresh storytelling material, but certain traditions have remained notably underrepresented on the big screen. That gap has left plenty of audiences waiting for a major studio to finally give Philippine mythology the cinematic spotlight it deserves.

DreamWorks Animation is stepping up to fill that void with its next original theatrical release, and the timing couldn’t be more significant given the studio’s recent creative momentum. Fresh off critical successes like ‘The Wild Robot’ and ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,’ the studio has built a reputation for taking creative risks that pay off both critically and commercially.

That momentum carries directly into ‘Forgotten Island,’ DreamWorks’ next original film, which is set to hit theaters on September 25. The film is described as a broad, comedic party adventure following two best friends who get transported to a long-forgotten magical island rooted in Philippine mythology, where they begin to lose their memories of one another as the story unfolds.

Behind the camera, the film reunites the creative team responsible for one of DreamWorks’ most acclaimed recent releases. Joel Crawford, who directed ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ and previously helmed ‘The Croods: A New Age,’ returns to write and direct ‘Forgotten Island’ alongside co-director Januel Mercado. The pairing carries genuine pedigree, having previously earned multiple award nominations, including an Oscar nod, for their work on the ‘Puss in Boots’ sequel.

For Mercado, ‘Forgotten Island’ marks a particularly significant career milestone, serving as his first full directing credit after previously earning a co-directing credit on ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.’ He also served as head of story on Crawford’s ‘The Croods: A New Age,’ giving the two collaborators a long working relationship heading into this new project.

According to DreamWorks, Crawford and Mercado drew inspiration from both their personal friendship and Philippine mythology when developing the film’s story and world. Crawford’s longtime producing partner, Mark Swift, is also attached to produce, continuing a creative partnership that’s spanned several of the director’s previous projects.

The voice cast rounds out with a notably diverse and accomplished lineup, including H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, and Lea Salonga. That combination of established Hollywood talent alongside prominent Filipino performers reflects the studio’s clear intention to authentically represent the culture at the heart of the story.

‘Forgotten Island’ arrives during an especially busy stretch for DreamWorks Animation, landing in the same general release window the studio previously occupied with ‘The Wild Robot.’ The film also follows closely behind ‘The Bad Guys 2’ and the studio’s live-action ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ remake, both released earlier this year, positioning ‘Forgotten Island’ as DreamWorks’ major fall theatrical push.

Given the studio’s recent track record of blending genuine emotional storytelling with broad comedic appeal, expectations remain high that ‘Forgotten Island’ could become another critical and audience favorite in DreamWorks’ growing slate of original films. For a studio that’s increasingly leaned into stories exploring underrepresented cultures and mythologies, this latest release feels like a natural, and long-overdue, next step.

With the film’s theatrical release now just weeks away, audiences will soon get their first full look at how Crawford and Mercado bring Philippine mythology to life on the big screen.

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