Fox announces Ice Age 4 for 2012

Had ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS opened to mediocre box-office it could very well have been the end of the franchise. But instead it opened to over $880 million worldwide making it the second highest grossing animated film of all-time. And when that happens, you know you’re getting another sequel.

Fox has announced that a fourth ICE AGE film, currently titled ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT, will hit theaters in 3D on July 13, 2012. It should be an interesting time for the movie as it opens shortly after the new SPIDER-MAN reboot and a week before BATMAN 3. With all three films planned for 3D, will there be enough 3D screens by then?

Little is known about CONTINENTAL DRIFT though it will presumably follow our heroes as the continents begin separating from a Pangea like state into the geography we’re now familiar with.

The next Fox animated film, RIO, which stars the voices of Anne Hathaway and Neil Patrick Harris, is scheduled for release in March of 2011.