Updated

Updated · Variety · Jun 22

Illumination Casts Timothée Chalamet, Selena Gomez in 2027 Animated Film Not Alone

Updated

Updated · Variety · Jun 22

Illumination Casts Timothée Chalamet, Selena Gomez in 2027 Animated Film Not Alone

Q: After his dramatic Oscar-nominated roles, what convinced Timothée Chalamet to make his animation debut with the creators of 'Minions'?

There is no confirmed public explanation from Timothée Chalamet himself in the announcement. Based on the information released, the clearest reason is the project itself: *Not Alone* gives him a lead role in an original, family-oriented sci-fi romance at Illumination, marking a new lane in his career with a major commercial animation studio. The film offers Chalamet a very different showcase from his recent Oscar-nominated dramatic work. He plays Joe, an introverted rocket mechanic in a story that mixes romance, comedy and alien adventure, opposite Selena Gomez. That kind of tonal shift fits his recent pattern of taking varied roles and expanding his range. Illumination’s side of the equation also matters. The studio behind *Minions*, *Despicable Me* and *The Super Mario Bros.* films has a strong global track record and is pushing an original property rather than another sequel. For an actor making an animation debut, that means a high-profile platform with broad audience reach and a character likely designed for mainstream appeal. Some commentary in the additional material suggests Illumination may be aiming for more emotionally ambitious storytelling with *Not Alone*, potentially giving Chalamet a chance to join a project that is both commercial and more character-driven. But that remains interpretation, not a stated reason from Chalamet or the studio.

3 articles · Updated · Variety · Jun 22

April 16, 2027 is the release date Illumination set for “Not Alone,” an alien-themed animated film led by Timothée Chalamet and Selena Gomez, announced at the Annecy Animation Festival.
Chalamet makes his animation debut as Joe, an introverted rocket mechanic, while Gomez plays Fran, an astro-botanist building the world’s first plant-fueled rocket.
Three fugitive aliens—voiced by Rob Brydon, Diane Morgan and Jamie Demetriou—hide in Joe’s home and try to use Fran’s rocket to escape Officer Zandro, played by Brett Goldstein.
Eric Guillon, Claire Dodgson and Jonathan Del Val are co-directing the film, which is produced by Illumination founder Chris Meledandri as the studio builds on franchises including “Despicable Me” and “Super Mario Bros.”