A new teaser trailer has been released for Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, the upcoming feature film that serves as a legacy sequel to the original animated series. Described as a "comeback 30 years in the making," the hybrid live-action/CG animated action-comedy follows the very same titular chipmunks fans saw starring in the original cartoon series. Now, three decades later, they're in modern-day Los Angeles, and while they're still animated, Dale has gotten the "CGI surgery." You can watch the trailer below.
The synopsis for Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers reads: "Chip and Dale are living amongst cartoons and humans in modern-day Los Angeles, but their lives are quite different now. It has been decades since their successful television series was canceled, and Chip (voice of John Mulaney) has succumbed to a life of suburban domesticity as an insurance salesman. Dale (voice of Andy Sandberg), meanwhile, has had CGI surgery and works the nostalgia convention circuit, desperate to relive his glory days. When a former cast mate mysteriously disappears, Chip and Dale must repair their broken friendship and take on their Rescue Rangers detective personas once again to save their friend’s life."
Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers stars John Mulaney (Saturday Night Live) as Chip, Andy Samberg (Palm Springs) as Dale, and KiKi Layne (If Beale Street Could Talk). Also joining the cast are Will Arnett (Arrested Development), Eric Bana (Dirty John), Flula Borg (Pitch Perfect 2), Dennis Haysbert (24), Keegan-Michael Key (Schmigadoon!), Tress MacNeille (The Simpsons), Tim Robinson (I Think You Should Leave), Seth Rogen (Pam and Tommy), J.K. Simmons (Being the Ricardos), Chris Parnell (Saturday Night Live).
The film is directed by Akiva Schaffer (Saturday Night Live), written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), and is produced by Todd Lieberman (Wonder) and David Hoberman (Beauty and the Beast), with Alexander Young (Extinction) and Tom Peitzman serving as executive producers.
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers Is the Latest Disney Cartoon to Go Live-Action
It was a matter of time before this movie was made. Disney has made a shift into remaking their animated properties in recent years, reimagining these classics in live-action (or, in the case of movies like The Lion King, in "hyper-realistic animation"). Padding up Disney+ with more content has resulted in even more of these movies being made, and given the nostalgia fans have for Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, it's perhaps the perfect time to give the pair a new movie.
The original animated program aired for three seasons with 65 overall episodes in 1989 and 1990. It follows Chip and Dale, two chipmunks running a detective agency along with their friends Gadget Hackwrench, Monterey Jack, and Zipper. It featured the voices of Tress MacNeille, Corey Burton, Peter Cullen, and Jim Cummings. The series is still looked back at fondly by fans as Chip and Dale have consistently remained popular characters in the Disney family.
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers is scheduled to be released on May 20, 2022. You can watch the original series on Disney+ by signing up at DisneyPlus.com.