Sing: Thriller, based on Michael Jackson’s short film of the same name, is headed to Netflix. In the animated Illumination short, Buster Moon, a charismatic koala played by Matthew McConaughey, and the Sing cast head to a Halloween party, after a successful performance of “Thriller” at the New Moon Theater. As the crew arrive at rock star Clay Calloway’s (Bono) Halloween bash, a multi-colored ooze has transformed the party host and his guests into dancing critters.
Garth Jennings, who worked on both Sing and Sing 2, will direct. Many characters from the Sing franchise will make their return for the animated short, including Tori Kelly as Meena, Nick Kroll as Gunter, Scarlett Johansson as Ash, Taron Egerton as Johnny, and Jennings as Miss Crawly.
The 2016 production of Sing was like an American Idol with animals. Buster, who has a passion for showbiz, puts on a talent show. After a typing error by Miss Crawly — she put the top prize at $100,000 rather than $1,000 — a crowd of eager marsupials and other animals enter the competition: Rosita the pig (Reese Witherspoon), Johnny the teenage gorilla, Ash the spiky porcupine, Mike the mouse (Seth MacFarlane), and Meena the timid elephant. The film features a handful of pop covers, including Witherspoon’s Rosita singing Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” and MacFarlane’s Mike singing Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.”
The 2021 sequel included more than 40 rock, rap, and pop tracks from the likes of Billie Eilish, BTS, Cardi B, Camila Cabello, and Taylor Swift. By Sing 2, McConaughey’s Buster has established an entertainment company with a crew of singing and dancing performers but must persuade rock star Clay to join their opening show.
Sing: Thriller premieres on Netflix Wednesday.
