50 Facts About The Garfield Movie

The Garfield movie, set to release in May 2024, promises to bring fresh excitement to fans of the beloved cartoon cat. With a star-studded cast and a thrilling storyline, this animated comedy is set to be a hit. Here are 50 detailed facts about the movie, its cast, production, and more.

Release Date and Director

The release date and the director's vision are crucial elements that set the stage for any movie.

1. Release Date: The Garfield movie is scheduled to hit theaters on May 24, 2024.
2. Director: Mark Dindal, known for his work on classics like “The Emperor’s New Groove,” is directing the film.

Screenplay and Executive Production

The screenplay and executive production ensure the movie stays true to its roots while offering something new.

3. Screenplay: The screenplay is crafted by a talented trio: Paul A. Kaplan, Mark Torgove, and David Reynolds.
4. Executive Producer: Jim Davis, the creator of Garfield, serves as one of the executive producers.

Star-Studded Cast

A movie's cast can make or break its success. The Garfield movie boasts an incredible lineup.

5. Chris Pratt: Voices Garfield.
6. Samuel L. Jackson: Voices Vic, Garfield's long-lost father.
7. Hannah Waddingham: Part of the ensemble cast.
8. Ving Rhames: Another notable addition.
9. Nicholas Hoult: Adds to the star power.
10. Cecily Strong: Brings her comedic talent.
11. Harvey Guillén: Joins the cast.
12. Brett Goldstein: Part of the lineup.
13. Bowen Yang: Completes the star-studded cast.

Garfield’s Origins and Setting

Understanding Garfield's origins and setting helps appreciate the character's journey.

14. Garfield’s Origins: Named after Jim Davis's grandfather, James A. Garfield Davis.
15. Setting: The comic strip and the new movie are set in Muncie, Indiana.

Character Design and Merchandise

Garfield's design and merchandise have played a significant role in his popularity.

16. Character Design: Garfield's design has changed over the years but remains fat, promoting self-acceptance.
17. Merchandise: Garfield merchandise brings in $750 million to $1 billion annually.

Guinness World Record and Social Media Popularity

Garfield's reach extends beyond comics, earning him records and a massive online following.

18. Guinness World Record: Garfield holds the record for being the world's most widely syndicated comic strip.
19. Social Media Popularity: Garfield has more than 16 million fans on Facebook.

High-Stakes Heist Plot

The new movie features an exciting high-stakes heist storyline.

20. High-Stakes Heist: Garfield and Odie are dragged into a wild adventure with Garfield's long-lost father, Vic.
21. Vic’s Character: Vic, voiced by Samuel L. Jackson, is a scruffy street cat who leads a gang of thieves.

Director’s Previous Work and Screenplay Team

The director and screenplay team bring a wealth of experience to the project.

22. Director’s Previous Work: Mark Dindal has directed films like “The Emperor’s New Groove” and “Chicken Little.”
23. Screenplay Team: Paul A. Kaplan, Mark Torgove, and David Reynolds have worked on TV shows and movies like “Spin City” and “Finding Nemo.”

Chris Pratt and Samuel L. Jackson’s Roles

The main voice actors bring their unique flair to the characters.

24. Chris Pratt’s Involvement: A huge fan of Garfield since childhood, Pratt was honored to voice the character.
25. Samuel L. Jackson’s Role: Jackson enjoyed playing Vic, describing him as a cool, charismatic leader with a soft spot for his son.

Fun Facts About Garfield

Garfield's quirks and traits make him a relatable and beloved character.

26. Lasagna Lover: Garfield is famous for his love of lasagna.
27. Monday Hater: He hates Mondays.
28. Indoor Cat: Prefers lounging indoors.
29. Personality: Known for his sarcastic and lazy personality.

Lesser-Known Facts

Some lesser-known facts add depth to Garfield's character and history.

30. Garfield’s Anatomical Illustration: His jowls are referred to as “smirk retainers.”
31. Raoul, Garfield’s Brother: Garfield has a brother named Raoul, who has health problems.
32. Lyman’s Fate: Rumors suggest Lyman, a character in the comic strip, is locked in Jon’s basement.

Iconic Merchandise and Advice from Peanuts Creator

Garfield's merchandise and advice from other creators have shaped his journey.

33. Window Cling Plushies: These were made by accident due to a miscommunication with the manufacturer.
34. Peanuts Advice: Charles Schulz advised Jim Davis to make Garfield’s feet bigger if he wanted to draw him as bipedal.

Controversial and Unique Aspects

Some aspects of Garfield's history are controversial or unique.

35. Garfield’s Semi-Canon Killing: It was once implied that Garfield semi-canonically killed a woman.
36. Friendship with OJ Simpson: Rumors suggest Garfield was friends with OJ Simpson.

Voice Work and Transformative Works

Voice actors and transformative works have played significant roles in Garfield's legacy.

37. Lorenzo Music’s Voice Work: Lorenzo Music voiced Garfield in cartoons and TV specials.
38. Bill Murray’s Experience: Murray had a unique experience with the Garfield movies, leading to Lorenzo Music being fired from Ghostbusters.
39. Transformative Works: Jim Davis approved of transformative works like Garfield Minus Garfield.

Jim Davis’s Control and Regrets

Jim Davis's involvement and occasional regrets have shaped Garfield's journey.

40. Jim Davis’s Control: Davis sees gags and works with assistants to ensure consistency.
41. Regretted License: Davis regrets licensing Zombie Garfield, which did nothing for the character’s advancement.

Garfield’s Popularity and Family-Friendly Nature

Garfield's popularity and family-friendly nature make him a beloved character worldwide.

42. Garfield’s Popularity: A beloved character with a vast collection of comic strips.
43. Family-Friendly: The new movie is perfect for viewers of all ages.

Animation and Cast Performance

The movie's animation and cast performance promise a visually appealing and engaging experience.

44. Top-Notch Animation: Ensures characters and settings come to life.
45. Star-Studded Cast: Includes Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Harvey Guillén, Brett Goldstein, and Bowen Yang.

Chris Pratt and Samuel L. Jackson’s Performances

The main actors bring their unique flair to the characters.

46. Chris Pratt’s Personality Capture: Pratt tried to capture Garfield’s essence while adding his own humor.
47. Samuel L. Jackson’s Performance: Jackson enjoyed playing Vic, describing him as a cool, charismatic leader.

High-Stakes Action and Garfield’s New Reality

The movie features high-stakes action and a new reality for Garfield.

48. High-Stakes Action: Packed with action, comedy, and heartfelt moments.
49. Garfield’s New Reality: Forced into an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father, Vic.

Odie’s Role and Director’s Vision

Odie's role and the director's vision add depth to the story.

50. Odie’s Role: Garfield’s loyal canine friend is also dragged into the heist.

Garfield's Big Screen Return

The new Garfield movie set for May 2024 promises a fun-filled adventure. Directed by Mark Dindal and featuring Chris Pratt as Garfield, this animated comedy brings fresh excitement to fans. With a star-studded cast including Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, and Nicholas Hoult, the film combines humor, action, and heartfelt moments. The storyline, involving a high-stakes heist with Garfield's long-lost father Vic, adds a unique twist. Jim Davis, Garfield's creator, ensures the film stays true to the character's essence. The movie's top-notch animation and engaging plot make it perfect for both long-time fans and newcomers. Garfield's love for lasagna, hatred for Mondays, and sarcastic personality remain central, promising a delightful experience for all ages. Whether you're a die-hard Garfield fan or new to his world, this movie is set to entertain and charm.