Computeropolis: Webcation

Computeropolis: Webcation is an upcoming American computer-animated comedy film produced by Universal Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures. The fifth installment in the Computeropolis franchise and the sequel to 2018's Computeropolis: The Deep Web, the film is being directed by Gary Hall and co-directed by Antoine Guilbaud (in his feature directorial debut) from a screenplay by Hall, Audel LaRoque, and Karey Kirkpatrick. It will feature the voices of Jesse McCartney, David Spade, Sarah Silverman, Dan Fogler, Jon Lovitz, Jennifer Tilly, David Hyde Pierce, Jodi Benson, Isabela Moner, Harland Williams, and Kari Wahlgren reprising their roles from the previous films, joined by newcomers Maya Rudolph, Billy Connolly, Minnie Driver, and Millie Bobby Brown. The film will be dedicated to character designer Cynthia Marion, who died on May 12, 2020 from complications from COVID-19.

After facing numerous delays from its original May 2021 release date due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Computeropolis: Webcation is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United Kingdom on June 30, 2021 and in the United States on September 17 by Universal Pictures. The film will also simultaneously stream on Peacock for free on the same day as the American release.

Premise
During his spring break in the fourth trimester of college, Peri decides to go on a vacation with his friends to the Grand Web Resort, a luxury resort far away from Computeropolis, which is described as a "webcation", but they become unaware that the resort turns out to be a virus that threatens to wipe out the computer world. Now, Peri and the gang must team up together to stop the virus.

Voice cast

 * Jesse McCartney as Peri Dazz, a computer-obsessed teenage boy, Nicky's best friend and a member of the DCL.
 * David Spade as Nicky Kickzoo, Peri's video game character and partner and a member of the DCL.
 * Sarah Silverman as Vinna Binz, a teenage girl, Peri's mate and a member of the DCL.
 * Dan Fogler as Travis, a clumsy and overweight boy who is one of Peri's friends.
 * Jon Lovitz as Notepad Ned, a member of the DCL and Paula's fiancé.
 * Jennifer Tilly as Painting Paula, a member of the DCL and Ned's love interest.
 * David Hyde Pierce as Manager Marc, the leader and founder of the DCL.
 * Jodi Benson as Commander Cindy, a member of the DCL and Marc's administrative assistant and mate.
 * Isabela Moner as Zola, a young woman and the queen of the Deep Web.
 * Audel LaRoque as Media Player Mike, one of the DCL members who can only communicate through music and sound effects. LaRoque reprises his role as Mike from the first installment as the character was previously voiced by Jess Harnell in The Deep Web.
 * Maya Rudolph as Linda Knotuhviwrist, an employee of the Grand Web Resort who is Nicky's love interest. Her surname is a pun on the phrase "not a virus".
 * Billy Connolly as Thomas Macintosh, a Scottish-accented elderly man who resides in the Grand Web Resort and is Martha's husband. His surname is a pun on the Macintosh family of personal computers.
 * Minnie Driver as Martha Macintosh, Thomas' wife.
 * Millie Bobby Brown as Amelia Macintosh, the daughter of Thomas and Martha.
 * Harland Williams
 * Kari Wahlgren as Carol, the computer voice in Computeropolis.

Additionally, all of the Gingo characters appear, including: Debi Derryberry as the titular protagonist from Gabriel Garza, Carolyn Lawrence, Candi Milo and Lacey Chabert as Spinach, Magilli and Koyponde Whackem from The Whackems, Rob Paulsen as Hatty Weasel from Hatty, Kath Soucie as Tad Sumoray from Funky Fu! Pop Star Fighter, Dee Bradley Baker as the titular protagonist from Niz Chicoloco, Grey Griffin as Chrysocolla and Sam Reed from Chrysocolla respectively, Ashley Johnson as the titular protagonist from Jenny Zoom, Jason Marsden as Iken J. Yanguburu from Planetokio, John Feder as Monsieur Luke, Sarah Silverman as the titular protagonist from Zina Supermoon, Max Casella, Jess Harnell and Billy West as Johnny, Zak and Max from Critter Mockers respectively, Josh Keaton and Tara Strong as Zen and Nova Pandemonium from The Pandemoniums respectively, and Sean Schemmel as Elijah Eubank from Ace of All Trades, all of whom reprise their roles from the series and other media.

Popular culture cameos and references
With the release of the first trailer, Computeropolis: Webcation has additional features to Internet culture (similar to the previous films) and to various Universal Pictures properties, including their own films (live-action and animated otherwise), Illumination films, Gingo, and DreamWorks Animation.

Characters from Woody Woodpecker, Universal Monsters, The Master of Colors, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Back to the Future, An American Tail, The Land Before Time, Elements of Light, Jurassic Park, Ama and the Mysterious Crystal, The Mummy, Paint World, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Mistress Masham's Repose, Shrek, Fast & Furious, Going Francisco, Bourne, The Scorpion King, Magina, Dusk and Dawn, Madagascar, Curious George, FusionMania, Kung Fu Panda, Woo La La, How to Train Your Dragon, Despicable Me, Nepola's Odyssey, Sunshine Cherry, The Croods, Luna & Zak, Minions, Paradoria, The Secret Life of Pets, Trolls, Twelve Forever, Sing, Tales of Arcadia, Imagimals, The Boss Baby, Hero School, Lix, Greenuts, The Grinch, Abominable, Antonio and Mr. Wacky Fox, Super Polly, Esqua, and Cubi!, among many others will appear in the film as well.

Development
On the possibility of a potential sequel, in May 2018, Audel LaRoque, director of Computeropolis: The Deep Web, stated that a fifth installment was already being considered. The following month, LaRoque stated that he planned to include references to several of Universal Pictures' properties in a possible fifth film.

In August 2018, Universal Animation announced that a fifth film was in development, but LaRoque confirmed that he would not direct the film since he was busy working on Mechagirl. On August 11, 2018, Gary Hall, a story supervisor on the Computeropolis films, was confirmed to be the film's director, while LaRoque would write the screenplay and serve as an executive producer alongside Universal Animation CEO Michael Wildshill. On October 21, 2018, Universal announced that Jesse McCartney, David Spade, and Sarah Silverman would reprise their previous roles in the fifth film. By February 15, 2019, Brandon Minez (who previously produced the first two Computeropolis films) and Amy McNeill (who previously served as associate producer of the first two films) were announced to produce the film.

At the 2019 Annecy International Animated Film Festival in June, further more details including the plot were announced with Wildshill and president David Stainton revealing that Maya Rudolph, Billy Connolly, Minnie Driver, and Millie Bobby Brown would join the cast and that the film that many of the Universal characters (including Universal Pictures and Animation, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation, and Gingo) would cameo with their respective actors and actresses. Further, Universal affirmed that Dan Fogler, Jon Lovitz, Jennifer Tilly, David Hyde Pierce, Jodi Benson, Isabela Moner, and Harland Williams are set to reprise their roles, while Hall and Karey Kirkpatrick would rewrite LaRoque's screenplay. According to LaRoque, he returned after he received inspiration from Disney's Ralph Breaks the Internet in which he watched earlier while preparing for the script of Computeropolis 5. LaRoque also expressed hope that it would be a better film than the previous installment.

In June 2020, the film's official title was revealed as Computeropolis: Webcation. By February 2021, it was announced that Antoine Guilbaud, a story artist on The Deep Web, has been added as co-director of Webcation. It will mark the last film from Cynthia Marion, who died on May 12, 2020 due to complications from COVID-19. The film will be dedicated in her memory.

Animation
Production was being done remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Music
John Debney and Heitor Pereira will return to score the fifth film, having previously scored the previous installments.

Theatrical and streaming
Computeropolis: Webcation is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United Kingdom on June 30, 2021 and in the United States on September 17 by Universal Pictures, while it will also simultaneously stream on Peacock for free on the same day as the US release. It was originally scheduled for May 21, 2021, before being moved back to May 14, 2021. The film was delayed again to November 5, 2021, later November 19. It was then further delayed to May 13, 2022, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The date was then moved up to March 4, 2022, then to July 2, 2021, and again to July 9 before moving up once more to September 17. In the United Kingdom, the film was scheduled for release on June 25, 2021, but was moved forward a week later on June 30.

In theaters, the film will be accompanied by Minions & Monsters, an Illumination animated short film featuring the Minions from the Despicable Me franchise; it was originally aired on NBC on June 11, 2021 alongside the airing of Minions (2015).

Marketing
A teaser trailer was officially released online on Universal Animation's YouTube channel on March 10, 2021.