Orion and the Dark

Orion and the Dark is an upcoming American animated fantasy adventure comedy film directed by Sean Charmatz (in his feature directorial debut) and written by Charlie Kaufman, based on the children's book of the same name by Emma Yarlett. Produced by DreamWorks Animation, the film is set for release on Netflix in 2024. Premise Orion seems a lot like your average elementary school kid, shy, un-assuming, harboring a secret crush. But underneath his seemingly normal exterior, Orion is a very anxious boy, completely consumed by irrational fears of bees, dogs, the ocean, cell-phone waves, murderous gutter clowns and even falling off of a cliff. But of all his fears, the thing he's the most afraid of is what he confronts on a nightly basis: the dark. He needs a light everytime he's sleeping. So when the literal embodiment of his worst fear pays a visit, the dark whisks Orion away on a roller-coaster ride around the world to prove there is nothing to be afraid of in the night. As the unlikely pair grow closer, Orion must decide if he can learn to accept the unknown and stop letting fear control his life and finally embrace the joy of living without any concerns. Voice cast Jacob Tremblay as Orion Paul Walter Hauser as The Dark Werner Herzog Production It was announced on June 12, 2023 that Netflix and DreamWorks Animation had collaborated on the film, which was written by Charlie Kaufman, and debuted several segments at the annual Annecy International Animation Film Festival that same day. Jacob Tremblay, Paul Walter Hauser and Werner Herzog were announced as part of the voice cast.