DreamWorks Animation Releases Cast Line-Up Into the Wild of 'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa'

GLENDALE, Calif., June 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. and Paramount Pictures Corporation today announced a stellar cast line-up for DreamWorks Animation's upcoming comedy, "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," which is slated for a November 7, 2008 theatrical release. "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" is the sequel to the studio's hit, "Madagascar" which grossed over $532 million in worldwide box office and became the number one animated film of 2005.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080604/LAW034)

The original cast from "Madagascar," including Ben Stiller as Alex the lion, Chris Rock as Marty the zebra, David Schwimmer as Melman the giraffe, Jada Pinkett Smith as Gloria the hippo, Sacha Baron Cohen as King Julien the lemur king, Cedric The Entertainer as Maurice, Julien's advisor and Andy Richter as Mort the chimp will reprise their roles in "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa." Joining the Central Park zoosters for their continuing adventures in Africa is an all new ensemble, including Bernie Mac (The Bernie Mac Show) as Zuba, Alex's dad and head of the pride, Sherri Shepherd (The View) as Alex's Mom, Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) as Makunga, a challenger to Zuba and Will.i.am (The Black Eyed Peas) as Moto Moto, a watering hole lothario.

"Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" is directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath (writer/directors of "Madagascar") and produced by Mireille Soria ("Madagascar") and Mark Swift ("Bee Movie"). Will.i.am serves as co-composer alongside Hans Zimmer.

In the highly-anticipated sequel to "Madagascar," Alex, Marty, Melman, Gloria, King Julien, Maurice and the penguins and the chimps find themselves marooned on the distant shores of Madagascar. In the face of this obstacle, the New Yorkers have hatched a plan so crazy it just might work. With military precision, the penguins have repaired an old crashed plane -- sort of. Once aloft, this unlikely crew stays airborne just long enough to make it to the wildest place of all -- the vast plains of Africa, where the members of our zoo-raised crew encounter species of their own kind for the very first time. Africa seems like a great place ... but is it better than their Central Park home?

About DreamWorks Animation SKG

DreamWorks Animation is principally devoted to developing and producing computer generated, or CG, animated feature films. With world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced CG filmmaking technology and techniques, DreamWorks Animation makes high quality CG animated films meant for a broad movie-going audience. The Company has theatrically released a total of fifteen animated feature films, including Shrek, Shrek 2, Shark Tale, Madagascar, Over the Hedge, Shrek the Third and Bee Movie. DreamWorks Animation's 2008 feature film releases include Kung Fu Panda, in theaters on June 6 and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, in theaters on November 7. Monsters vs. Aliens, the Company's first film produced in 3D, is slated for a domestic release date of March 27, 2009.

About Paramount Pictures Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation is a unit of Viacom , a global entertainment company that produces and distributes filmed entertainment through the Paramount Motion Picture Group. PHE is responsible for the worldwide sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment products on behalf of various parties including: Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, CBS, PBS and Hasbro, and for providing home entertainment fulfillment services for DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment.

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This document includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's plans, prospects, strategies, proposals and our beliefs and expectations concerning performance of our current and future releases and anticipated talent, directors and storyline for our upcoming films and other projects, constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry in which we operate and management's beliefs and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological and/or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of the business of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. These risks and uncertainties include: audience acceptance of our films, our dependence on the success of a limited number of releases each year, the increasing cost of producing and marketing feature films, piracy of motion pictures, the effect of rapid technological change or alternative forms of entertainment and our need to protect our proprietary technology and enhance or develop new technology. In addition, due to the uncertainties and risks involved in the development and production of animated feature projects, the release dates for the projects described in this document may be delayed. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our most recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. DreamWorks Animation is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.