Ixnay on "The Croods 2"?

Variety tells us:

DreamWorks Animation and its new parent, Universal Studios, have pulled the plug on the long-gestating sequel to the 2013 hit “The Croods.”

Universal Pictures Chairman Donna Langley met with workers at DreamWorks Animation’s Glendale headquarters Thursday to confirm that production of “The Croods 2” was being stopped immediately.

Some 30 employees who have been working on the film, launched 3 1/2 years ago, will be looking for new jobs. The workers were told DreamWorks Animation hopes to keep them at the company. Some could be shifted to other film projects, while others might be put into training or “artistic development” programs, according to an individual at Universal, who asked not to be named. ...

As we said yesterday, Universal has been telling DWA's artistic staff about changes that are rolling down the pike.

The deep sixing of The Croods 2 was part of the changes. Others (per Guild employees) is the uncoupling of projects in development to specific release dates. DWA-Universal wants to make the pictures that are in work to be as ship-shape as possible before setting a release date.

There are other developments, but mum's the word until The Reporter or Deadline or Variety sniff them out. Then we'll comment. Maybe. ...