Will Arnett is starring in the live-action family comedy “Show Dogs.”
The film is being co-produced and co-financed by Open Road Films and Riverstone Pictures.
Raja Gosnell (“The Smurfs,” “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” “Scooby Doo”) is directing.
Natasha Lyonne (“Orange Is the New Black”) is co-starring. The film also features a star-studded voice cast for various canine characters: Ludacris, Stanley Tucci, Alan Cumming, Gabriel Iglesias and Shaquille O’Neal.
Filming began on Nov. 28 at Pinewood Studio Wales in the United Kingdom.
Through its partnership with FilmNation Entertainment, Open Road International will handle international sales on “Show Dogs,” with Riverstone Pictures, Wales Screen (advised by Pinewood Pictures) and Pinewood Films providing financing.
“Show Dogs” was written by Max Botkin. Deepak Nayar and Philip von Alvensleben are producing. Tom Ortenberg, Nik Bower, Max Botkin, Raja Gosnell and Scott Lambert are executive producing along with Yu Fai Suen and Robert Norris.
“Show Dogs” features talking canine characters, including the hero, Max (voiced by Ludacris), a rugged lone-wolf Rottweiler NYPD police dog. Max and his human FBI partner (Arnett) investigate the kidnapping of a baby panda by an underground network of illegal animal traders when they get a tip that the crime ring is planning to sell the panda at the prestigious Canini Invitational Dog Show.
The very macho Max must undergo a makeover with the help of a seasoned trainer (Lyonne) — mud baths, ballet lessons, a Brazilian waxing – to go undercover in order to thwart the plot. In the hands of his new human handler Frank, Max gets in touch with his inner show dog, and also learns that trusting the help of others can sometimes be more rewarding than working alone.
Arnett is the voice lead in the upcoming “Lego Batman.”