Illumination Sets April 16, 2027 Wide Release for Animated Alien Film ‘Not Alone,’ Starring Timothée Chalamet and Selena Gomez

Universal Pictures’ Illumination announced on Monday during the Annecy Film Festival in France that it will release its next animated feature, “Not Alone,” as a wide movie release on April 16, 2027. The project, which the studio is describing as an animated alien film, takes the place of Illumination’s previously slotted “Untitled Illumination Event Film.” The announcement also confirmed that Timothée Chalamet and Selena Gomez will star in the film’s voices.

According to Deadline, the Annecy unveiling marked a key programming move for the studio ahead of the 2027 theatrical window, with Illumination using the family-friendly animated format to build a high-profile tentpole release. The festival appearance provided a public, industry-facing setting for the cast and date announcement, with the project positioned as an event-style theatrical title rather than a limited rollout.

Chalamet and Gomez join Illumination’s animated roster in roles that Deadline characterized as starring. While the Deadline report does not detail character names or story specifics beyond the film’s broad premise, it establishes the two headline performers as central to the movie’s marketing and audience draw.

The wide release timing places the film in the spring theater season, typically a period when studios aim for strong mainstream attendance and multi-week ticket sales. Illumination’s decision to replace the previously announced “Untitled Illumination Event Film” suggests the studio has finalized the working title and release plan tied to that slot, bringing the project into a clearer production and distribution timeline.

Deadline also reported that the Annecy Film Festival served as the platform for the announcement, underlining the role of major international industry gatherings in setting global film release expectations. For distributors and theater operators, a confirmed wide date helps with scheduling, screens allocation, and promotional planning months in advance.

No additional casting beyond Chalamet and Gomez was specified in the Deadline report, and the announcement did not include production start dates, director details, or release-by-market breakdowns. Universal’s decision to provide only the lead cast and a public premiere timeframe indicates that the studio is still shaping additional creative and marketing information for later updates.

For audiences, the announcement represents another major English-language animation tentpole in the Illumination slate, paired with two widely recognized performers. For the entertainment industry, it is also a reminder of how studios use major festivals to communicate release calendars and star attachments, which can influence downstream licensing, merchandising planning, and early trade coverage.

Illumination’s “Not Alone” is scheduled for a wide release on April 16, 2027, following the studio’s Annecy announcement that it is replacing the previously named “Untitled Illumination Event Film” slot, according to Deadline.