Broadway legend Lea Salonga, Grammy winner H.E.R., and actress Liza Soberano are lending their voices to DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming film Forgotten Island, the first international production by a major studio to spotlight Filipino stories.
They will be joined by Filipino-Canadian actor and Top Gun: Maverick star Manny Jacinto, 21 Jump Street’s Dave Franco, and Marcel the Shell with Shoes On actress Jenny Slate.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the animated adventure is set on the island of Nakali, a world inspired by Philippine mythology, where lifelong friends Jo (voiced by H.E.R.) and Raissa (Soberano) become stranded. The pair must navigate the island’s mysteries, discovering that the only way home might mean giving up their shared memories.
The film, set for release in September 2026, is written and directed by Joel Crawford and Filipino-American filmmaker Januel Mercado, the duo behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and The Croods: A New Age.
Salonga and Soberano both confirmed their involvement on social media. Salonga, who made history as the first Filipino to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is best known for her Disney roles in Aladdin and Mulan. Soberano, on the other hand, recently appeared in the U.S. film Lisa Frankenstein, while H.E.R. continues to expand her acting career following her Oscar-winning success in music.
