Madagascar 2 Coming to HMNS Wortham IMAX®

Houston, Texas -- In the summer of 2005, Madagascar scored big with domestic and international audiences, making it the top family comedy of the year. Now, the popular quartet—the fancy-footed lion, a quick talking zebra, an anxiety-ridden giraffe and a smart and saucy hippo return in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, opening at the Houston Museum of Natural Science Wortham IMAX® Theatre on Nov. 7, 2008.

“We just fell in love with the characters that we created along with Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith, and clearly everyone else did too,” said Co-Director Tom McGrath. “Even before the movie became as popular as it was, we wanted to do another movie with the characters. We were on our way to Europe and on that plane; we just started hashing out a story and thought, ‘What if our characters went to Africa, their homeland where they supposedly belong?’ This was a wonderful way to continue the ‘fish out of water’ story—four New Yorkers on the plains of Africa.”

In the highly-anticipated sequel, Alex; Marty; Melman; Gloria; King Julien; Maurice and the penguins; and the chimps find themselves marooned on the distant shores of Madagascar. In the face of this obstacle, the New Yorkers have hatched a plan so crazy it just might work. With military precision, the penguins have repaired an old crashed plane — sort of. Once aloft, this unlikely crew stays airborne just long enough to make it to the wildest place of all, the vast plains of Africa, where the members of the zoo-raised crew encounter species of their own kind for the very first time. Africa seems like a great place…but is it better than their Central Park home?

Also along for the rambunctious ride with the original cast is returning cast member Andy Richter, as sad-eyed mouse lemur Mort, along with new additions that include Bernie Mac as Alex’s dad, Zuba, the alpha male of the pride; Sherri Shepherd as Alex’s Mom, thrilled to have her long-lost son back home; Alec Baldwin as Makunga, who prides himself as the next alpha of the pride; and will.i.am as ultra-stud hippo and watering hole lothario Moto Moto.

Digitally re-mastered through IMAX DMRâ technology with crystal clear, larger than life images and state-of-the-art digital surround sound, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa in large format, puts audiences in the movie for the most immersive cinematic experience around.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is released through Paramount Pictures. This film has been rated PG for some mild crude humor.

See more, hear more, feel more in IMAX®. Tickets for Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa in the Wortham IMAX® Theater are $14 for adults; $10 for members; $10.50 for children (3-11), $11 for seniors (62+) and students with a valid college ID; and $11 for groups of 20 or more. For tickets, visit the museum's Web site or call 713-639-4629.