Can Benedict Cumberbatch Help Make Penguins Of Madagascar A Christmas Hit? [Trailer]

DreamWorks Animation have been trying to get a film together for the penguins ever since the success of the 2005 film Madagascar. Since then the characters have featured in the subsequent Madagascar films but 'Penguins' are finally getting their own release this December. Now the Christmas boxoffice is on the horizon, this is could be primarily due to the addition of a few star vocal performances from two of Hollywood's favourites: Benedict Cumberbatch and John Malkovich.

Watch The Penguins Of Madagascar trailer here:

Another factor might come down to the success of 2011's Shrek spin-off 'Puss in Boots'. The Dream Works' production was well received with Rotten Tomatoes giving it an 84% review. Both stories are similar in origin, however instead of expanding the backstory of a mysterious character, 'Penguins' seems intent on reimagining the lovable supporting characters as international super spies. 

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The Penguins - Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private - are now the main characters, tasked with helping Benedict Cumberbatch's Agent Classified and his crew, The North Wind - a specialist group of arctic animals 'dedicated to helping animals who can't help themselves'. Imagine The A Team, but if Hannibal was an arctic wolf.

Penguins are up to their usual antics

The combined task force must work together to take down Dr. Octavius Brine, played by John Malkovich. Coming to us from the director of the Madagascar movies, Penguins looks set to maintain the off-beat comedy that made these bit-part characters so entertaining. 

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Perhaps Dream Works just understands how to make spin off movies, and if directors Eric Darnell and Simon J. Smith can do the film justice, then combined with the star power of Cumberbatch and Malkovich, the film could be set for an impressive time at the box-office.