Salma Hayek’s animated passion project based on the 100 million-selling masterpiece by Lebanese poet Kahlil Gibran opens August 7 In NYC & LA followed by national expansion.
New York, NY -- Independent animation distributor GKIDS, has announced the North American release date for Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, the animated feature produced and spearheaded by Salma Hayek-Pinault, based on the classic, internationally acclaimed and best-selling book by celebrated Lebanese author Kahlil Gibran.
The film, which was an official selection at Cannes and made its North American premiere in Toronto, will open August 7 in New York and Los Angeles, with expansion to all major markets in the following weeks.
Inspired by the iconic book "The Prophet," the film features a narrative story written and directed by Roger Allers (The Lion King), with individual "chapters" based on Gibran’s poems that were designed and directed by acclaimed animation directors from around the world, including Tomm Moore (Oscar nominee for The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea), Joan Gratz (Oscar winner for Mona Lisa Descending a Staircase), Bill Plympton (Oscar nominee for Guard Dog and Your Face), Nina Paley (Annecy winner for Sita Sings the Blues), Joann Sfar (Cesar winner for The Rabbi’s Cat), Paul and Gaetan Brizzi (Fantasia 2000), Michal Socha (Chick) and Mohammed Harib (Freej).
Gibran's book is one of the bestselling books of all time, having sold over 100 million copies in more than 40 languages, since its original publication by Alfred Knopf in 1923.
Voice cast includes Liam Neeson, Salma Hayek-Pinault, Quvenzhané Wallis, John Krasinski, Frank Langella and Alfred Molina. The score is by Oscar winner Gabriel Yared (The English Patient), with additional music by songwriters Damien Rice, Oscar winner Glenn Hansard (Once), and Lisa Hannigan and performances by Grammy-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
Source: GKIDS
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
