Chris Rock wants Madagascar 4 — for a very funny reason

Here we go again with actors plotting nostalgic returns — but this one’s a bit cheeky. Chris Rock, who you’ll probably remember as the voice behind Marty the Zebra in Madagascar, is very much up for another go-round with the franchise. And let’s just say, his motive is more ‘mortgage payments’ than ‘artistic legacy’.

For a bit of background, Madagascar 3 was the last major outing for Marty, Alex, Melman, and the rest, and that was all the way back in 2012. No official sign of a fourth film since, though it’s not entirely off DreamWorks’ table.

Madagascar has pulled in more than $2.2 billion around the globe since the first film arrived.

The Franchise So Far

The original Madagascar saw a ragtag group of New York zoo animals — including Rock’s chatty Marty — go on an accidental holiday to, well, Madagascar. Two sequels later, and they’d ended up in a European circus, more or less making peace with their new wild lives. Alongside the three main films there have been spin-offs, three animated TV shows, a handful of shorts, a TV special, plus the usual parade of tie-in games and even a stage musical.

Chris Rock’s Reboot Pitch (and Reasoning)

Now, in a recent clip for Variety, Chris Rock reminisced about his time as Marty, calling the first film "the biggest movie" he’s ever done. But when asked about returning for Madagascar 4, Rock didn’t mince words. Here’s how Rock hilariously put it while chatting with Variety about his film roles:

I got divorced. I don’t have Madagascar money anymore. We only did three. There’s five Ice Ages. Five, okay? F--- Ray Romano. I need Madagascar. It’s time. Weren’t there like a Toy Story 4 or 5? Why can’t we figure this out?

So, less ‘I miss the character’, more ‘I miss that franchise-sized payday’. Honestly, you can’t really blame him — after all, those Ice Age sequels just kept coming, didn’t they?

What Do DreamWorks Say?

Don’t get your hopes up yet, though. During a 2024 rerelease/Q&A for the original film, directors Tom McGrath and Eric Darnell addressed the possibility, making it clear money isn’t the only factor (though let’s be honest, it helps). McGrath told Animation Scoop that Universal and DreamWorks both see the potential, but there’s a catch:

The question I think that the studio has, that they’ll always have is… ‘Is there a good story for a fourth one?’ And it has to be a worthy story to make the sequel, so it’s not necessarily a money grab. Eric and I love those characters, and there’s plenty of life to be had. It’s just finding the right story to tell in the franchise.

So even with studio interest and Chris Rock eyeing another go, Madagascar 4 isn’t officially on the schedule — at least, not until someone cracks a story worth dusting off those circus wigs for.