The Chris Pratt-led animated film Garfield is set to arrive in theaters in early 2024.

According to Variety, the famous orange feline will return to the big screen on Feb. 16, 2024. Pratt's Garfield will be joined by a brand-new character named Vic, Garfield's father, played by fellow Marvel Cinematic Universe star Samuel L. Jackson. While Vic is a new addition to the Garfield world, other fan-favorite characters from the long-running comic strip -- such as Garfield's canine companion, Odie, and their owner, Jon Arbuckle -- are expected to feature in the film as well. Pratt and Jackson are the only known cast members thus far, however.

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While Pratt is best known for his live-action work, he has done voice work in a number of high-profile animated films, including starring roles in The Lego Movie and Pixar's Onward. His next animated feature due for release is the still-untitled Super Mario Bros. movie, which stars Pratt as Mario opposite Charlie Day as Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser and many more. The Mario movie -- which is produced by Illumination in association with Nintendo and distributed by Universal -- was recently hit with a delay, and is currently slated to release in the United States on April 7, 2023.

Here Comes Garfield

The new animated Garfield movie was originally announced in 2016 shortly after Alcon Entertainment acquired the rights to the Garfield brand, and received widespread attention when Pratt was cast in the lead role in late 2021. The movie is written by David Reynolds, Oscar nominee for Finding Nemo, who reunites with his The Emperor's New Groove collaborator Mark Dindal, who is attached to direct. Animation and visual effects studio DNEG (Ron's Gone Wrong) is animating the project. Sony Pictures will distribute the film. worldwide (excluding China).

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The character of Garfield was created in 1976 by Jim Davis in the newspaper comic strip Jon, which was changed to Garfield in 1978. Davis received a Guinness World Record in 2013 when Garfield was officially recognized as the world's longest running comic strip. The strip continues to this day.

The Garfield comic strip has already spawned several animated versions of the beloved character, including television shows and direct-to-video movies. Additionally, Bill Murray starred as the voice of Garfield in 20th Century Fox's live-action/CGI hybrid film Garfield: The Movie, which hit theaters in 2004. Murray reprised his role in the film's 2006 sequel, Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties. The live-action Garfield films were both commercial successes despite poor critical reception.

Garfield premieres in theaters on Feb. 16, 2024.

Source: Variety