Universal has announced that DreamWorks Animation's Trolls 3 will debut in theaters on November 17, 2023. The still untitled threequel in the lucrative film franchise based on the popular toy line will have a 17-day theatrical period before arriving on PVOD.
The franchise made waves last year when Universal opted to release Trolls World Tour straight to home audiences when the pandemic upended the movie theater industry. Trolls World War was supposed to release in March 2020 before COVID-19 forced theaters to shutter their doors. Rather than delay the movie, Universal opted to put it on digital rental service n the same day as its theatrical debut date.
The decision proved to be a smart one as Trolls World Tour grossed $100 million via streaming platforms in its first few weekends (and another $47 million at the international box office during COVID-19). However, it also upset theater chains. AMC and Cinemark vowed to boycott Universal's movies and ultimately the two sides agreed to shorten the theatrical window and bring movies to home audiences more quickly.
Plot details for Trolls 3 remain a mystery but you can probably expect another tuneful adventure with Poppy and Branch. It's unclear if Walt Dohrn will return to direct the third film.
While we have to wait until 2023 for the Trolls to return to the big screen, fans can tune in to an all-new holiday special, Trolls Holiday in Harmony, this Friday, November 26, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake and more of the cast of Trolls World Tour will return for this holiday adventure.