Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus

InvaderZimSDCC2018Poster — Teaser poster

Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus! is an upcoming 66-minute^[1] television film based off of the Invader Zim TV series, set to air some time in 2018 or 2019.

Announcement

On April 4th, 2017, over sixteen years since the series' original premiere and eleven years since the last unaired episode was premiered in the US, Nickelodeon officially announced that Invader Zim would be brought back for a made for television original movie. As of now the plot and release date are unknown, but four of the main voice actors are confirmed to be returning. Richard Horvitz as Zim, Rikki Simons as GIR, Andy Berman as Dib, and Melissa Fahn as Gaz. Nick also announced that series creator Jhonen Vasquez would be involved in the project, serving as an executive producer as well as reprising his role as Computer.^[2] It is currently unknown if there are more voice actors set to return since other castings not been officially released.

The three announcement trailers can be found here (first), here (second) and here (third). (or down below in the videos section under teasers.)

A little over a year later on June 26, 2018, the movie's title was announced and that the film would have a panel on July 20th at San Diego Comic-Con. Exclusive behind-the-scenes art and sneak preview footage was released immediately after the panel ended.^[3]

Plot

Zim falls into a depression after he’s abandoned by his idols, the Almighty Tallest, leaving an opening for his enemy Dib to finally expose him as an alien.^[4]

Voice cast

Voice actor	Character(s)
Richard Steven Horvitz	Zim
Rosearik Rikki Simons	GIR
Andy Berman	Dib Membrane
Melissa Fahn	Gaz Membrane
Rodger Bumpass	Professor Membrane
Wally Wingert	Almighty Tallest Red
Kevin McDonald	Almighty Tallest Purple
Olivia d’Abo	Tak
Paul Greenberg	Poonchy

Trivia

The existence of the movie was first revealed by Harvey Beaks creator C.H. Greenblatt on November 8th, 2016. Vasquez initially denied the existence of the film, dismissing it as "a rumour".^[5]
- It is likely that Vasquez was under an non-disclosure contract with Nickelodeon at the time and was forced to dismiss it.
Kevin McDonald confirmed on Twitter that the original cast of Invader Zim were going to record lines, so it is apparent more characters are set to appear in the film.^[6]
JR Goldberg of the Invader Zim comic book series confirmed she was also involved in this project. It was later found out should would be the Art Director of the film.^[7]
Cartoonist Jake Parker was confirmed to be working on the project.^[8]
Cartoonist Tyson Hesse was confirmed to be working on the project.^[9]
Cartoonist Jake Wyatt was confirmed to be working on the project.^[10]
The movie's storyboards and concept art are being outsourced to a South Korea studio named Maven Animation Studio.^[11] Previously, animation services for the television series was mainly produced by Sunwoo Entertainment.
Olivia D' Abo stated on her Twitter she was excited for the Invader Zim movie. Nickelodeon Press announced on July 20th in an article that she would reprise her role as Tak.^[12]^[13]
The Irken symbol has been redesigned.
Despite overwhelming fan demand, it is unknown if the show will be brought back on the air after the movie's premiere. However, Olivia D'Abo mentioned a "new Invader Zim series" on her Twitter. However, she could just be referring to the comic series.^[14]
It is currently unknown if Invader Skoodge is set to appear in the television movie, but some have speculated that the refusal by Nickelodeon to use him in the comics has been because they've been saving him for the movie.
It is unclear if Ms. Bitters will be in the movie, due to the death of Lucille Bliss in 2012, unless they hire a new voice actress to fill her role.
- It is possible that Candi Milo might replace her as an understudy, as she has voiced the character previously on the 2008 video game Nicktoons: Globs of Doom due to Bliss' poor health.
Footage from the teaser trailer suggests that the movie is at least partially an adaptation of the first issue of the comic series.
- The same footage also shows Floopsy Bloops Shmoopsy, the fictional TV show which first appeared in Issue 20.
Originally, Zim was supposed to come back in the form of a 6 episode miniseries. Vasquez later suggested one long episode (TV movie) to executives and they obliged.^[15]
At the SDCC panel, Vasquez explained that the teaser they presented only showed completed shots of animation and that some of the teaser scenes were going back to be re-animated and may look different when the final product releases.