Jill O'Rourke
Jill O’Rourke is a contributor at Talent Recap, writing news stories and recaps for shows like ‘AGT,’ ‘The Voice,’ and ‘American Idol.’ She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and Film Studies, and has been writing about pop culture since 2012, with previous bylines at Crushable and A Plus. Jill spends her free time binge-watching sitcoms and daydreaming about life as a hobbit
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| May 25, 2023 SIGN IN TO SAVE POST
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesReading Time: 2 minutes
Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment is teaming up with GFM Animation and Threshold Entertainment to produce a new animated movie called X Factor in the Jungle. The project is inspired by the talent show, with animals taking center stage.
Simon Cowell Working on Animated X Factor Movie
According to Variety, the upcoming movie shows what happens when a karaoke machine ends up in the jungle. A sing-off between a mouse, jaguar, and rhino leads to a singing contest attended by a huge audience of animals.
The film is written by Sean Catherine Derek (known for the Batman animated series) and directed by Kirk Wise (known for Disney titles such as Beauty and the Beast and The Hunchback of Notre Dame). Cowell and Threshold partner Jimmy Ienner will manage music collaboration.
“I have loved this idea since I first was approached by Larry and the team at Threshold, and I’m delighted GFM Animation love it too,” Cowell said in a statement. “We all share the same vision for this fun, positive, family-friendly movie, and of course I’m equally really excited for the soundtrack too. I’ve always wanted to make animated movies and I plan for this to be the first of many!”
Pre-production for X Factor in the Jungle will reportedly begin this year, with animation starting next year. The plan is to distribute the film in 2026.
SEE ALSO: SIMON COWELL SAYS NIALL HORAN COULDN’T HAVE MADE IT THROUGH HIS ‘X FACTOR’ AUDITION IF NOT FOR HIM
Animated Movie ‘X Factor in the Jungle’ Greenlit by GFM Animation, Larry Kasanoff’s Threshold, Simon Cowell’s Syco (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/VJNo3BYiVh
— Variety (@Variety) May 18, 2023Will the Show Ever Return?
Now that Cowell is working on an animated version of The X Factor, can we expect the live-action show to return? There’s been talk of both the UK and USA versions of the show coming back to our TV screens at some point.
Last year, Cowell told Talent Recap that he could “possibly” be returning to judge The X Factor, explaining that it’s “more likely than not” that the show would be coming back. Then earlier this year, it was reported that Cowell was in talks for a new contract with Channel 5 in the UK.
Cowell has also teased the return of The X Factor USA last year, saying NBC offered to air a new season of the show. It’s now been 10 years since the American version went off the air after three seasons. No official dates have been announced for either version of the show.
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