How interested are you in the emotional journey of a one-inch shell? Well, what if I told you this particular shell was the creation of Jenny Slate and Dean Fleischer-Camp more than a decade ago? Marcel the Shell with Shoes On was a sensation when it debuted in 2010, with the short winning awards and sending Slate’s career to the moon. Well, it’s taken a while, but someone has finally decided it’s a good time to capitalize on that early success. I guess they decided to move at the speed of a shell.
Marcel’s full-length story debuted at Telluride where those who saw it gave it great reviews. The film reunites Slate with her former partner, Fleischer-Camp, on the screenplay, joined by Nick Paley. Joining Slate in the cast are Rosa Salazar, Thomas Mann, Isabella Rossellini, and Lesley Stahl. Fleischer-Camp is behind the camera.
Here’s the synopsis: Marcel is an adorable one-inch-tall shell who ekes out a colorful existence with his grandmother Connie and their pet lint, Alan. Once part of a sprawling community of shells, they now live alone as the sole survivors of a mysterious tragedy. But when a documentary filmmaker discovers them amongst the clutter of his Airbnb, the short film he posts online brings Marcel millions of passionate fans, as well as unprecedented dangers and a new hope at finding his long-lost family. A beloved character gets his big-screen debut in this hilarious and heartwarming story about finding connection in the smallest corners.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On opens on June 24th.
