Dream Works Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg announced that the studio will produce a sequel to the computer-animated comedy Madagascar.
The movie has now passed the $500-million mark at the worldwide box office, becoming the company's most successful original movie.

As a result of its tremendous box office success, the potential to tell a new chapter in its story and the popularity of the film's characters, we are excited to announce that we are making 'Madagascar' our second company franchise, along with 'Shrek.' We will release a theatrical sequel in 2008, Katzenberg said at the annual Merrill Lynch Media & Entertainment Conference in Pasadena.

Apparently Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and Jada Pinkett Smith, who voiced Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra and Gloria the Hippo in the original movie, will be reprising their roles.

Katzenberg is looking forward to other original cast members returning to their roles for the sequel.

Madagascar 2 will be produced by Mireille Soria and co-directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath.

DreamWorks Animation will also give a chance to the scene-stealing Madagascar Penguins to take top billing in a direct-to-video release due out in 2009.

The company produced a ten-minute film featuring the Penguins, which will hit theatres this fall alongside the studio's main theatrical release: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, which is to be released nationwide on October 7th.