Branch, Poppy, and their friends are back! The Trolls will return to the big screen in Trolls Band Together this November, and there are some big surprises in store!
Walt Dohrn, who co-directed Trolls and directed Trolls World Tour, returns to direct Trolls Band Together alongside co-director Tim Heitz. Dohrn, who is also a voice actor, lends his voice to several characters in the Trolls films, such as Cloud Guy and Mr. Dinkles. Heitz has worked as a story artist on many animated films including Penguins of Madagascar, Megamind, and Monsters vs. Aliens. Given the success of the first two Trolls films, we can’t wait to see the next chapter!
Poppy (voiced by Anna Kendrick) and Branch (voiced by Justin Timberlake) are the lovable stars of the Trolls franchise. Since Trolls was released in 2016, bubbly Poppy and endearingly grouchy Branch have enthralled young audiences and their parents alike with fun renditions of favorite hit songs and introduced great original songs as well. In fact, the song “Can’t Stop the Feeling” from 2016’s Trolls earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song! Trolls World Tour kept the party going with the introduction of exciting new characters and, of course, lots of energetic song covers.
When we last saw Poppy and Branch in Trolls World Tour, Branch had just revealed to Poppy that he had feelings for her. The Trolls Band Together trailer opens with the new couple holding hands as they prepare to head to the wedding of their friends Bridget (Zooey Deschanel) & Gristle (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). Serving as a reunion of sorts, we get a glimpse at a fun and carefree celebration with some of our favorite characters. Guy Diamond (Kunal Nayyar) is shown gushing over Tiny Diamond (Kenan Thompson), who is wearing a large flower around his face. “Tiny Diamond, you make the cutest little flower boy!” croons an auto-tuned Guy Diamond. In response, Tiny Diamond rips off the flower and says, “Come on Daddy, I make the cutest little flower man!”
Suddenly, an unfamiliar troll appears, introducing himself as John Dory (voiced by Eric Andre). He announces that he is Branch’s estranged brother and he’s returned to enlist Branch’s help in locating their brothers and reuniting the family band. It is then revealed, much to Poppy’s delight, that Branch and his four brothers were once in Poppy’s favorite boy band, BroZone. Branch is reluctant to help since his brothers abandoned him to venture out without him when he was young.
In a flashback to the moment when Branch was abandoned, his brothers walk out the door of their home, leaving behind a forlorn baby Branch. As one brother leaves, he turns to face Branch. “Branch,” he begins, “we’re out of sync. We’ve gone from boys to men, and now there’s only one direction for us to go: the backstreets.” While the little ones won’t get the reference, their parents can definitely appreciate that nod to some popular boy bands over the years.
Eventually Poppy convinces Branch to go with her and John Dory to rescue their brother Floyd (voiced by Troye Sivan), who has been kidnapped by two evil pop singers named Velvet (Amy Schumer) and Veneer (Andrew Rannells). Along the way, they search for Branch’s other two brothers Spruce (Daveed Diggs) and Clay (Kid Cudi) as well in an attempt to reconcile the fractured family.
As they set out on their quest, the gang loads into what can only be described as a large caterpillar-esque vehicle with legs. At John Dory’s urging, Tiny Diamond presses a button marked “HUSTLE”. This causes the song “Do The Hustle” to play and launch the group through a star-shaped wormhole. They are shown flying through space in several different psychedelic animation styles. When they finally crash land at their destination, Poppy declares, “Wow! Too much hustle is a thing!”
This first look at the trailer has made us so excited to see Branch and Poppy’s next adventure in Trolls Band Together! If you’re looking for a great, feel-good movie to watch with your family this fall, this will be an excellent choice. The soundtrack is sure to be packed full of catchy hits that the whole household will be singing as well. See it at Regal this November!
