The Sing franchise is returning, just in time for Halloween.
Netflix announced that the spooky short film Sing: Thriller is set to debut Wednesday on the streaming service. Hailing from Illumination and Universal Pictures, the project returns franchise director Garth Jennings and voice actors Matthew McConaughey (playing Buster Moon), Tori Kelly (Meena), Nick Kroll (Gunter), Scarlett Johansson (Ash), Taron Egerton (Johnny) and Jennings (Miss Crawly).
Sing: Thriller follows Buster (McConaughey) and his friends staging an elaborate version of the Michael Jackson hit “Thriller” for a Halloween party. The crew later realizes that a mysterious ooze has transformed the attendees into dancing freaks.
The short film is based on the 1983 music video for the smash single “Thriller.” Rod Temperton wrote the music and lyrics for the song that is featured on Jackson’s album of the same name, which remains the best-selling album of all time.
Sing: Thriller was written and directed by Jennings, with Chris Meledandri serving as producer. Dana Krupinski is executive producer, while Nathalie Vancauwenberghe serves as co-producer.
The original Sing film hit theaters in 2016 and surpassed $600 million at the global box office, with the story centering on Buster attempting to save his struggling theater by organizing a singing competition. A sequel followed in 2021.
Reese Witherspoon voiced the pig Rosita in the two features, but is among the members of the franchise cast who will not return for the new short.
In her review for The Hollywood Reporter of the original movie Sing, critic Leslie Felperin wrote, “With such a stellar cast on hand, it’s no surprise that Sing is a treat for both the ears and eyes.”
