Angry Birds film announced

Angry Birds is heading to the big screen with a 3D CG animated feature length film aiming for a summer 2016 release.

The film will be financed and produced by Angry Birds developer Rovio Entertainment and has Despicable Me producer John Cohen attached to help with production. Former Marvel Studios chairman and Iron Man executive producer David Maisel has also been named as Angry Birds' executive producer.

Rovio intends to create the film outside of the studio system meaning it will retain full creative control of the project. It is basing the venture on the model used by Marvel Studios in its own highly successful run of films.

'With John’s hands-on producer background and David´s expertise in establishing and running his own successful studio, these two are the dream team for making a movie outside the studio system. Both professionals have the ideal skills and vision to achieve incredible things,' said Rovio Entertainment chief executive Mikael Hed.

Rovio has already experimented with brining the irritable avians to a television format with a series of cartoons originally airing on Nicktoons.

Setting the absurdly high benchmark of just how well a mobile title can actually perform, Angry Birds has broken the billion downloads mark since its 2009 release and Rovio has branched out to develop several sequels and spin-offs including a licensed tie-in for the animated film Rio and even a Star Wars themed version which has enjoyed surprisingly positive reviews.

In terms of merchandise, if you can think of it there is probably an Angry Birds version of it out there somewhere. Considering the games have moved into plush toys, books, board games, the aforementioned cartoons and even theme parks, a film was all but inevitable.