THE CROODS 2

History’s first family has company.

DIRECTOR Joel Crawford STARRING Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Peter Dinklage, Leslie Mann

Arguably the most underrated animation of the last decade, 2013 ’toon The Croods is held in such high regard at DreamWorks that a rushed, cash-grab sequel was never an option. “People loved The Croods, and they’d been trying to make another one,” says A New Age director Joel Crawford. “But it’s a high bar.”

After helming the Trolls Holiday Special, Crawford pitched an idea for a Croods follow-up that didn’t just continue the story of overprotective dad Grug (Cage), adventurous daughter Eep (Stone) and inventive outsider Guy (Reynolds), but one that spoke to our increasingly divided world as the Croods encounter a second prehistoric family on their journey to find a new home.

“The Bettermans are a more evolved family,” Crawford smiles, pun fully intended. “These two families couldn’t be more different. The Croods lead with their heart, and the Bettermans lead with their brain. Of course, there’s conflict. But they learn not just to live with each other’s differences but to almost celebrate them.”

Also starring The Last Jedi’s Kelly Marie Tran as Eep’s new bestie Dawn, the film is set to explore the origins of humanity’s first BFFs. “It’s beautiful, and it’s ridiculous,” Crawford laughs. “And it’s so fun to watch them enjoy each other’s worlds.”