Image Source: Digit, Ice Age Wiki – Fandom, PNGEgg, SUBPNG

Remember the squirrel that divided the world with a nut? The Ice Age franchise has been running for over 20 years and still manages to fascinate children and adults alike. The film franchise has now come up with its latest installment, The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild, which is streaming on Disney+. The film features Simon Pegg in the role of Buck Wild and is a wild ride through the world of the Dinosaurs. The series will have a few new characters, namely Zee, who is voiced by Justina Machado and others. 

Talking with the lead actor, Buck, Screenrant discussed the actor reprising his role in the film series, his new adventures alongside the dinosaurs, and more. 

The actor shared that Buck has always fascinated him, and he is always ready to do more with the character. "I've jokingly said this to Lori Forte, the producer, over the years of having played Buck," he revealed. "Because I always have such fun, and I get to the end of the session, and I'm super caffeinated with him. I always say, "Please, can we do more with Buck? Can we have a Buck movie or whatever?" "I feel very lucky that little dream came true for me," he admitted. 

The actor then recalled how he first entered into the animated film series back in 2009 when he and his wife were expecting, and Pegg wanted to work in a film, which he could later watch with his child. He shared that his daughter has practically grown up watching the Ice Age films, and the duo have bonded over it. 

"I think every Ice Age film is kind of about the family in some respect. It's a strange, mismatched family - even back in the day when it was just Sid, Manny, and Diego,' he continued. "It's always been about how families are hard to navigate because we're all very different. Sometimes it can feel like your dad is a mammoth, or your uncle is a saber-toothed tiger or whatever."

He also shared that films have always focused on underlining a hidden message, mostly revolving around the love of family and friends. Talking about examples from the film, the actor relayed that Buck Wild's latest film "is all about what it's like to leave your family and be okay with that."

On the other hand, "Crash and Eddie have decided that they want to perhaps have some more time away, but they're slightly conflicted that Ellie will think that they don't love Ellie," said Pegg. "And for Buck, it's all about being okay with relying on your friends. There's always a message underneath all the fun and games, and I think that's what makes the Ice Age endure."

Similarly, Justina Machado also talked with Screen Rant about how she felt as she joined the series as one of its latest stars. "I was a fan of the movies. I remember seeing the original 20 years ago. So, yes, I was a fan. And I've always been a fan of the universal themes that the movie has of family, of chosen family, community, justice, equality - all of those things," said the voice actor. 

Sharing her love for the movies and how the latest film stands up in front of the other films in the franchise, Machado said that while she can't particularly remember a theme the latest film also happens in the same misshapen world of Ice Age. The story will divulge a little about the backstory of Buck and his history of a sort, while Zee will begin a new life in the 'family,' as Pegg said in his words. "I think that there are more similarities than there are differences in all the movies," she conceded. 

The actress even shared how surprising it is for Ice Age to have come along 20 years in time. When it came out, I was already an adult. It's interesting that it's been 20 years, and they're still making these movies that little kids love, that adults love and that families love watching together," she said. "I mean, that's always fun to be able to watch something with your family, and everybody gets something out of it."

The film is available to stream on Disney Plus+ and was released on January 28, 2022