SYDNEY—Alex, Marty and the other animals from the Madagascar movies could find themselves Down Under in their next film, if Ben Stiller and Chris Rock have their way.
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, the sequel to the 2005 animation hit Madagascar, will be released here in December, but the cast and crew are already looking forward to a third instalment.
"They still haven't gotten home and it always felt like this was the type of movie where you could do three instalments because they could try to get home," Stiller told AAP.
The second film sees the animals - Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo - back in Africa after their New York-bound plane crash lands.
The zoo-raised gang find themselves on a wildlife reserve, where they encounter species of their own kind for the very first time.
Stiller, who plays Alex the lion, said he would love to see the animals in the Australian outback next time around.
"You guys have iconic animals, there aren't many countries that have animals that are so associated with the country.
"My daughter loves Australian wildlife."
No matter where the animals go their voice-overs are recorded in a Hollywood studio, but Stiller said he would love to shoot a movie in Australia some day.
"I've only really been to Sydney and up to this island near Cairns, but I'd love to get into the outback and see some of the country," he said.
"But that wouldn't happen (on Madagascar) because it's an animated movie.
"Maybe some other movie. Maybe I'll get hired for Australia 2 and I can replace Hugh Jackman," Stiller said.
Rock said he would be happy to reprise his role as Marty the zebra, and see him meet an emu in the outback.
"I think Australia is a good spot for the next one. The Emu is a very bizarre animal," Rock said.
"But that's up to Jeffrey (DreamWorks Animation boss Jeffrey Katzenberg) and Ben (Stiller)."
It seems the deal is as good as done then, according to Katzenberg.
"Whatever Chris Rock says, I'm for. He's the man," Katzenberg laughed.
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa opens in Queensland, the Northern Territory and South Australia on December 11, and the remainder of Australia on December 18.