Swapped: Michael B. Jordan and Juno Temple Lead Skydance's Body-Swap Comedy for Netflix in 2026
Here's a fun one. Netflix is bringing Skydance Animation's new feature Swapped to audiences in 2026 - a buddy comedy where a small woodland creature and a majestic bird switch bodies and have to survive the wild together. It's high concept, sure, but also very human: two strangers forced to trust each other fast.
Formerly called Pookoo, the film now has its leads. Michael B. Jordan (movies and tv series) voices the small creature; Juno Temple (movies and tv series) is the bird (movies and tv series). You can already hear the banter - precise, playful, a little chaotic - with both actors more than capable of carrying heart and humor in the same scene.
Who's making it
- Director: Nathan Greno (movies and tv series) (Tangled)
- Writers: John Whittington (movies and tv series), Christian Magalhaes, Robert Snow (movies and tv series)
- Story by: John Whittington, Adam Karp (movies and tv series), Christian Magalhaes, Robert Snow, Nathan Greno
- Producers: John Lasseter (movies and tv series), David Ellison (movies and tv series), Dana Goldberg (movies and tv series), Mary Ellen Bauder Andrews
Greno's pitch is clear: take the energy of live-action nature documentaries and pour it into an animated survival comedy. "Swapped is an unpredictable, emotional ride - full of humor, spectacle, and heart," he said, adding that Jordan and Temple bring "warmth and authenticity" and a chemistry that feels "funny one second, deeply moving the next."
Why this lands for animation folks
Body-swap stories live or die on chemistry and timing. Jordan (Creed, Black Panther (movies and tv series)) and Temple (Ted Lasso, Fargo) give the film immediate personality, plus a wide acting range to play the comic beats and the scarier survival moments. And the nature-doc influence hints at textured worldbuilding - close-up, tactile, a little unpredictable.
On the studio side, it's another all-ages swing for Skydance Animation as the team continues building its slate at Netflix. The rebrand from Pookoo to Swapped also signals a cleaner, clearer hook for audiences and marketers heading into 2026.
The takeaway
Simple premise, tight cast, and a director who's proven he can balance big set pieces with genuine feeling. If the ecosystem angle pays off, Swapped could deliver both spectacle and small, human moments - the kind families quote on the car ride home.
Release: 2026 on Netflix.
