Joaquim De Almeida Joins Legendary’s ‘Animal Friends’

EXCLUSIVE: Joaquim De Almeida has joined the cast of Legendary’s Animal Friends, the live-action and animated hybrid pic from writing duo Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider. Peter Atencio directed the R-rated Road trip adventure.

He joins a cast that includes Ryan Reynolds, Jason Momoa, Aubrey Plaza, Daniel Levy, Addison Rae, Lil Rel Howery, and Ellie Bamber. Producing alongside Legendary are Reynolds’ Maximum Effort and producer Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios. Visual effects and animation will be provided by visual entertainment services company, DNEG. The idea for the film came from a general meeting between Burrows and Mider and Maximum Effort executive, Patrick Gooing.

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The film will be released by Sony on August 15, 2025.

De Almeida’s past credits include Desperado, Clear And Present Danger and Behind Enemy Lines. He was recently seen in Amazon & MGM’s hit remake Road House opposite Jake Gyllenhaal and also recently reprised his role in Fast X opposite Jason Momoa. On TV side he held a major supporting role in Missing directed by Nick Johnson and Will Merrick opposite Storm Reid, and appeared in FX’s series Shogun.

De Almeida is represented by Lasher Group, Independent Artist Group and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson McGinnis Ryan.

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