Trailer: Popular Children Series ‘The Bad Guys’ Races to the Big Screen with Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron

Dreamworks Animation has released a new trailer for its upcoming big-screen adaptation of the New York Times bestselling children’s book series “The Bad Guys,” arriving in theaters on April 22. The film features Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, and Awkafina as four animal criminals who turn over a new leaf to become model citizens.

The trailer shows the film’s distinctive animation style, like a comic book come to life, somewhat reminiscent of the blockbuster “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and “The Mitchells Vs. The Machines.” It also hints at the story and serves up a few comedy bits as the crew tries to go against their inherent intentions. It will be interesting to hear how the crew of talented actors mesh together in the series, but I’m always up for anything Rockwell is a part of.

The official synopsis follows:

Never have there been five friends as infamous as The Bad Guys—dashing pickpocket Mr. Wolf (Academy Award® winner Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), seen-it-all safecracker Mr. Snake (Marc Maron, GLOW), chill master-of-disguise Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson, Hot Tub Time Machine franchise), short-fused “muscle” Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos, In the Heights) and sharp-tongued expert hacker Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina, Crazy Rich Asians), aka “Webs.” 

 

But when, after years of countless heists and being the world’s most-wanted villains, the gang is finally caught, Mr. Wolf brokers a deal (that he has no intention of keeping) to save them all from prison: The Bad Guys will go good. 

 

Under the tutelage of their mentor Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade, Paddington 2), an arrogant (but adorable!) guinea pig, The Bad Guys set out to fool the world that they’ve been transformed. Along the way, though, Mr. Wolf begins to suspect that doing good for real may give him what he’s always secretly longed for: acceptance. So when a new villain threatens the city, can Mr. Wolf persuade the rest of the gang to become … The Good Guys? 

 

The film co-stars Zazie Beetz (Joker), Lilly Singh (Bad Moms) and Emmy winner Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel).

Based on the blockbuster Scholastic book series by Aaron Blabey, The Bad Guys is directed by Pierre Perifel (animator, the Kung Fu Panda films), making his feature-directing debut. The film is produced by Damon Ross (development executive Trolls, The Boss Baby, co-producer Nacho Libre) and Rebecca Huntley (associate producer, The Boss Baby). The executive producers are Aaron Blabey, Etan Cohen and Patrick Hughes.