Zoe Saldana joins Julián with voice role and producer credit
zoe saldana has joined Julián as both a voice actor and executive producer, putting her name on a hand-drawn animated feature that is already lined up for a June 2026 world premiere at Annecy. The move gives the adaptation a higher-profile backer as it moves through an international production setup.
Saldaña said, "Cisely, Mariel, and I were deeply moved by the story of ‘Julián’ and its gentle, powerful message about self-expression and acceptance. We’re so excited to help share this heart-warming film with audiences around the world." That line captures why this credit matters beyond casting: she is not just lending a voice, she is joining the producing side of a film built around a bestselling picture book and a festival launch.
Louise Bagnall’s feature debut
Louise Bagnall is directing Julián as her feature debut, after being identified for her Academy Award-nominated short work. Her first feature is being made with hand-drawn animation, a choice that fits a story that moves between Brooklyn and an underwater fantasy world without leaning on the glossy look that dominates much of the field.
The film follows a seven-year-old boy who spends the summer with his grandmother in Brooklyn and begins to dream of himself as a mermaid. That setup gives the project a clear emotional center, and Saldaña’s involvement adds another recognizable name to a film trying to break out of the art-house animation lane without losing its independent identity.
Cartoon Saloon and partners
Cartoon Saloon is backing Julián alongside Melusine Studio, Aircraft Pictures, and Sun Creature. The production is spread across Ireland, Luxembourg, Denmark, and Canada, which makes the project less like a single-studio feature and more like a coordinated international build.
New Europe Film Sales will handle international distribution, while CAA Media Finance will oversee U.S. sales. That split signals a rollout designed for buyers on both sides of the Atlantic, with Annecy in June 2026 serving as the first major public proving ground before broader distribution decisions take shape.
Annecy in June 2026
The June 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival premiere gives Julián a timetable and a target audience: programmers, buyers, and animation executives who track what can travel beyond one territory. For a film based on Julián Is a Mermaid, the combination of Saldaña, Bagnall, and Cartoon Saloon is the clearest sales argument in the package.
