Convention - SDCC 2026: The Angry Birds Movie 3 Takes Flight with New Toys and an Expanded Franchise Vision

By Mulder, San Diego, Convention Center, Room 6BCF, 24 july 2026

The Angry Birds Movie 3 becomes the centerpiece of Rovio's next generation
 
Although the panel also touched on comics and collectibles, the overwhelming focus of the SDCC 2026: Angry Birds and Palworld Epic Games with Epic Toys! presentation was The Angry Birds Movie 3, the next theatrical chapter of Rovio's globally successful franchise. Producer John Cohen, composer Heitor Pereira, and Ben Mattes from Rovio Entertainment discussed how the upcoming animated feature is no longer viewed simply as another sequel, but as the central pillar of a broader entertainment strategy connecting cinema, publishing and consumer products. Rather than revealing story spoilers, the creative team concentrated on explaining how every department—from filmmaking to licensing—has worked in parallel from the earliest stages of production to create a consistent vision that extends well beyond the movie screen. That philosophy was immediately illustrated through the first public presentation of toys inspired directly by the film, confirming that merchandise development began while character designs were still evolving instead of after animation had been completed.

A first look at The Loyal Subjects' collectible line
 
One of the panel's biggest attractions was the unveiling of the first officially licensed toy range from The Loyal Subjects based on The Angry Birds Movie 3. Attendees were shown early prototypes of articulated figures, plush toys and collectible mini-figures featuring redesigned versions of Red, Chuck and several new characters appearing in the film. According to the speakers, the unusually close collaboration between the production team and the toy manufacturer allowed expressions, accessories and even posing possibilities to be discussed simultaneously with the movie's artistic development. Instead of adapting finished designs into merchandise, both teams shaped the visual identity together, ensuring that the collectibles faithfully reproduce the personalities audiences will discover on screen. The approach also reflects the growing importance of collector culture within family entertainment, where premium figures increasingly appeal to adult fans alongside younger audiences.

Building a multimedia future beyond the mobile game
 
During the discussion, John Cohen reflected on the remarkable longevity of Angry Birds, a property that first became a global phenomenon through mobile gaming before successfully expanding into animation, publishing and merchandising. He explained that The Angry Birds Movie 3 represents the franchise's biggest opportunity yet to introduce a new generation to its characters while rewarding longtime fans who have followed Red and his companions for more than fifteen years. Ben Mattes echoed that vision by describing the film as the foundation of an interconnected rollout including comics, collectibles and additional consumer products. The panel therefore suggested that Rovio's ambitions now extend well beyond theatrical success, positioning the movie as the driving force behind a much wider entertainment ecosystem rather than a standalone release.

What we know about The Angry Birds Movie 3
 
Directed by John Rice from a screenplay by Thurop Van Orman, The Angry Birds Movie 3 continues the animated series that began in 2016 and followed with The Angry Birds Movie 2 in 2019. The film once again features Jason Sudeikis as Red, Josh Gad as Chuck, Rachel Bloom as Silver and Danny McBride as Bomb, while introducing newcomers including Emma Myers, Walker Scobell, Marcello Hernández, Tim Robinson, Anna Cathcart, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Nikki Glaser, MrBeast, Salish Matter, Psalm West, Sam Richardson, James Austin Johnson, Lily James and Keke Palmer. Officially produced by Rovio Entertainment, Sega Sammy Group and Prime Focus Studios, with animation by DNEG Animation, the feature is distributed worldwide by Paramount Pictures, following the studio's acquisition of distribution rights in 2025 after its successful collaboration with Sega on the Sonic the Hedgehog films.

A story focused on fatherhood and global adventure
 
The official synopsis confirms that Red's greatest mission is no longer simply defeating the pigs but balancing family responsibilities with saving the world. During the holiday season, the famously short-tempered bird must confront what the studio describes as his "greatest challenge yet": surviving fatherhood while facing another global crisis. This new direction marks a noticeable evolution for the franchise, shifting part of its emotional core toward family life without abandoning the large-scale comedic adventure that characterized the previous films. A teaser first shown exclusively during CinemaCon 2026 before its public online release reinforced this premise, highlighting Red's transition into parenthood while preserving the fast-paced humor associated with the series.

Music, production and release already locked
 
Composer Heitor Pereira, who returns after scoring previous entries, briefly discussed the importance of maintaining the recognizable musical identity of the franchise while introducing new themes that reflect Red's changing personal journey. Production officially began following Rovio's announcement in June 2024, with voice recording sessions commencing the same year and continuing throughout 2025. The completed film has a runtime of 96 minutes and is scheduled for theatrical release on December 23, 2026, including France and the United States, where it will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Angry Birds and Palworld Epic Games with Epic Toys! 
Where: Room 6BCF, San Diego Convention Center
When: July 24, 2026.
Panel guests: John Cohen (producer of The Angry Birds Movie 3), Heitor Pereira (composer), Ben Mattes (Rovio Entertainment), Tom Akel (Rocketship Entertainment), Thom Zahler (comic artist), and Evan Lee (EvanTube), alongside representatives from The Loyal Subjects.

Synopsis : 
During this holiday season, an Angry Bird will have to face his greatest challenge yet: surviving fatherhood… all while saving the world!

The Angry Birds Movie 3
Directed by John Rice
Written by Thurop Van Orman
Based on Angry Birds by Rovio Entertainment
Produced by John Cohen, Dan Chuba, Carla Connor, Namit Malhotra
Starring  Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Emma Myers, Rachel Bloom, Walker Scobell, Danny McBride, Marcello Hernández, Tim Robinson, Anna Cathcart, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Nikki Glaser, MrBeast, Salish Matter, Psalm West, Sam Richardson, James Austin Johnson, Lily James, Keke Palmer
Edited by Sarah K. Reimers
Music by Heitor Pereira
Production companies : Rovio Entertainment, Sega Sammy Group, Prime Focus Studios
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date : December 23, 2026 (France, United States)
Running time : 96 minutes

You can found our photos in our Flickr page

Photos and video 4K :  Boris Colletier / Mulderville