Convention - SDCC 2026: Angry Birds Movie 3 Takes Flight with an Exclusive Panel, New Toys, and a Family-Focused Adventure

By Mulder, 14 july 2026

After years of speculation, shifting release dates, and growing anticipation, The Angry Birds Movie 3 is finally ready to make one of its biggest public appearances at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, where the franchise will be celebrated not only through its upcoming theatrical return but also through an ambitious panel dedicated to toys, animation, comics, music, and collectibles. Scheduled for Friday, July 24, the Angry Birds and Palworld: Epic Games with Epic Toys! panel perfectly reflects how far Rovio Entertainment's iconic property has evolved since the mobile game first became a worldwide phenomenon in 2009. What began as a simple physics-based puzzle game has become a multimedia brand spanning feature films, comics, merchandise, animation, and collectibles, and Comic-Con will offer fans an opportunity to see how every part of that universe continues to expand while introducing the first wave of merchandise inspired by the upcoming film.

The timing could hardly be better. Just weeks after releasing its first official trailer to the public, The Angry Birds Movie 3 has generated renewed excitement by revealing a sequel that is willing to take its characters in an unexpected direction. Rather than simply repeating the familiar birds-versus-pigs conflict, director John Rice and writer Thurop Van Orman have chosen to explore a challenge that audiences of every generation can immediately recognize: parenthood. The trailer places Red in unfamiliar territory as he attempts to balance family life with yet another world-saving adventure, demonstrating that the franchise is evolving alongside the audience that grew up launching birds across smartphone screens more than fifteen years ago. The official synopsis captures the concept in a single sentence: "This holiday season, one angry bird will have to face his greatest challenge yet: surviving fatherhood… while saving the world!"

One of the trailer's most memorable comic moments perfectly illustrates this new direction. While audiences naturally expect spectacular action sequences and elaborate destruction from the franchise, the biggest laugh instead comes from everyday family chaos, as Chuck and Bomb quickly realize the hazards of childcare when young Olly manages to drink an entire bottle of soda in seconds. It is a surprisingly grounded piece of comedy that demonstrates the filmmakers' confidence in expanding the emotional range of the series without sacrificing the frantic slapstick humor that has defined Angry Birds since its cinematic debut.

The creative continuity behind the production plays a major role in that confidence. John Rice, who previously co-directed the second film, returns to direct, while Thurop Van Orman once again writes the screenplay, ensuring that the distinctive mix of absurd comedy and heartfelt character moments established in the previous installment remains intact. Producers John Cohen, Dan Chuba, Carla Connor, and Namit Malhotra also return, while composer Heitor Pereira, whose energetic musical scores became one of the defining elements of the first two films, once again provides the soundtrack. Behind the scenes, production is handled by Rovio Entertainment, now part of the Sega Sammy Group, alongside Prime Focus Studios, with DNEG Animation overseeing storyboards, art development, and animation. Together, the production demonstrates how the franchise has steadily increased both its technical ambition and production scale since the original feature film nearly a decade ago.

The cast also reflects that evolution. Jason Sudeikis returns as Red, while Rachel Bloom reprises Silver, whose relationship with Red now forms the emotional center of the story. Their children introduce an entirely new generation of characters, with Walker Scobell voicing adventurous eldest son Glider, Emma Myers portraying creative teenage daughter June, and Psalm West making his feature-film voice acting debut as the energetic young chick Olly. The family is completed by Fuzzy, the pet spider voiced by James Austin Johnson. Promotional artwork suggests these younger characters will actively participate in the adventure rather than simply serving as comic sidekicks, potentially laying the groundwork for the future of the franchise.

Returning fan favorites remain an essential part of the ensemble. Josh Gad once again lends his unmistakable energy to Chuck, Danny McBride returns as Bomb, while Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox reprise their popular roles as Hal and Bubbles. At the same time, Paramount has assembled an impressive roster of newcomers that bridges Hollywood stars and digital creators, including Tim Robinson, Marcello Hernández, Anna Cathcart, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Nikki Glaser, Sam Richardson, Lily James, Keke Palmer, MrBeast, and Salish Matter. The combination illustrates a deliberate strategy to appeal simultaneously to longtime fans of the films and younger audiences who increasingly discover entertainment through online creators.

An interesting anecdote surrounding the new generation of voice talent further reinforces the franchise's legacy. Both Walker Scobell and Emma Myers have spoken about growing up playing the original Angry Birds games before eventually joining the films themselves. They also admitted that voice acting proved considerably more demanding than they had expected, requiring intense vocal performances and emotional energy despite never appearing on screen. Their comments offer a reminder that animated performances often demand just as much physical commitment as live-action roles.

The path toward this third installment has been unusually eventful. Development officially began in 2024, with recording sessions commencing later that year. Fans received one of the earliest confirmations when Josh Gad shared photographs from the recording studio, revealing that Chuck was officially returning. Distribution also changed significantly during production. Whereas previous entries were released by Sony Pictures, worldwide distribution is now handled by Paramount Pictures, which acquired the rights in 2025. The theatrical release itself was adjusted several times before settling on December 23, 2026, placing the film directly in the lucrative Christmas holiday corridor, a period traditionally dominated by major family releases.

San Diego Comic-Con will provide fans with their first major opportunity to experience that new era beyond the trailer itself. Rather than focusing exclusively on the film, the Friday panel embraces the broader Angry Birds universe through toys, comics, music, and design. Rovio Entertainment and The Loyal Subjects will unveil entirely new toy lines inspired by The Angry Birds Movie 3 while also showcasing products based on the enormously successful video game Palworld. Toy designer Dina Al Rifai will discuss the creative process behind translating animated characters into collectible figures before offering an early look at future projects based on M.A.S.K. and The Hunger Games. Producer John Cohen, composer Heitor Pereira, Tom Akel, comic artist Thom Zahler, YouTube creator Evan Lee, and Ben Mattes from Rovio will explore the increasingly interconnected relationship between film production, publishing, collectibles, and fan communities. The program will also feature a special recorded appearance by John "Bucky" Buckley from Pocketpair, together with a preview of a remade classic 1980s toy planned for release in 2027, making the session one of Comic-Con's most eclectic cross-media presentations.

Beyond the announcements themselves, the Comic-Con panel illustrates how Angry Birds has successfully reinvented itself over the years. What was once regarded simply as one of the defining mobile games of the smartphone era has become a long-running entertainment property capable of spanning theatrical animation, publishing, licensed products, social media, and collector culture. The franchise's willingness to embrace a story centered on family while simultaneously expanding into new merchandising opportunities demonstrates remarkable confidence in its longevity. If the trailer accurately represents the finished film, audiences can expect the spectacular destruction and visual comedy they associate with Angry Birds—but also a surprisingly relatable story about growing older, raising children, and discovering that sometimes the greatest challenge is not defeating villains but surviving everyday family life.

Angry Birds and Palworld: Epic Games with Epic Toys!
Where: Room 6BCF, San Diego Convention Center
When: Friday, July 24, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
What : The panel brings together John Cohen, Heitor Pereira, Dina Al Rifai, Tom Akel, Thom Zahler, Evan Lee, and Ben Mattes, with a special appearance from John "Bucky" Buckley, to unveil new collectibles inspired by The Angry Birds Movie 3 and Palworld, discuss the creative process behind the film, comics, music, and toy development, and preview additional projects including new M.A.S.K. and The Hunger Games collectibles, as well as a remade classic 1980s toy scheduled for release in 2027.

Synopsis:
This holiday season, an Angry Bird will have to face his greatest challenge yet: surviving fatherhood… 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, Prime Focus Studios, John Cohen Productions
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date : December 23, 2026 (United States, France)