Back To The Outback: Release Date, Cast, And More

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The train of original animated films for Netflix doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon, with "Back to the Outback" coming our way at the end of 2021. The feature will be animated by Reel FX Creative Studios, the same animation team behind films like "Free Birds" and "Book of Life," who also lent a hand for the animation on "UglyDolls" and "Scoob!" The new film marks the sixth original animated feature for Netflix after "Klaus," "The Willoughbys," "Over the Moon," Arlo the Alligator Boy," and "America: The Motion Picture." Here's everything you need to know about "Back to the Outback" and more.

"Back to the Outback" is scheduled to be released on December 10, 2021 on Netflix.

Dangerously cute and on the loose, "Back to the Outback" is about a group of Australia's deadliest animals feeling sick and tired of being locked up in a reptile house for humans to stare at them like they're monsters, so they all decide to make a break for it and escape the zoo to live freely in the Australian Outback. The leader of the group is a poisonous snake with a heart of gold named Maddie, who joins forces with a Thorny Devil lizard named Zoe, a hairy spider named Frank, and a sensitive scorpion named Nigel. All seem to go according to plan, until an adorable yet annoying Koala named Pretty Boy insists on tagging along. The animals do their best to escape to the Outback, all the while the zookeeper Chaz and his mini-me are hot on the trail.

"Back to the Outback" will be co-directed by screenwriter Harry Cripps ("Penguin Bloom," "Supernova," "The Dry") and editor Clare Knight ("The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part," "Kung Fu Panda Trilogy," "Madagascar") in both of their directorial debuts. The film comes from a screenplay from Cripps and executive producer Gregory Lessans ("My Best Friend's Girl," "Flock of Dudes," "Without Remorse").

"I have always been touched by stories of hidden beauty," said director Clare Knight in a statement from Netflix. "Maddie is both uniquely beauty and beast, and to get to present that message in comedy is the icing on the cake."

Writer/director Harry Cripps added:

"Growing up in Australia, I spent a lot of time in the Blue Mountains which has many different types of snakes and spiders, and I always preferred them to the cute cuddly animals, so it's such a treat to make a film where the heroes are these poisonous but beautiful little creatures. This film is a love letter to Australia's incredibly diverse and unique wildlife."

Melissa Cobb and Akiva Goldsman join Lessans as executive producers, with Daniela Mazzucato producing. The film will also feature music from gifted composer Rupert Gregson-Williams who has been responsible for the music of films ranging from "Bee Movie" and "Hubie Halloween" to "Wonder Woman" and "The Crown." The film will also feature original songs from Tony-Award winning musician and comedian Tim Minchin.

"Back to the Outback" boasts a pretty impressive voice cast featuring Isla Fisher, Tim Minchin, Eric Bana, Guy Pearce, Miranda Tapsell, Angus Imrie, Keith Urban, Jacki Weaver, Rachel House, Celeste Barber, and Wayne Knight.