Lil Dicky is ready for things to get animated.
Dave Burd, the Dave star known by the stage name Lil Dicky, is in talks to sell an original animated feature pitch to DreamWorks Animation, The Hollywood Reporter has exclusively learned. Plot details have not yet been disclosed for the project that the studio landed in what was described as a highly competitive situation.
Burd is a multi-platinum rapper, comedian and actor. He starred on the FX comedy series Dave, which was based on his real life and saw him serve as co-creator, executive producer and writer. Brad Pitt, Rachel McAdams and Drake were among the notable names who made guest appearances on the series that holds a 90 percent critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Dave’s season three finale aired in May 2023, and THR reported the following year that Burd would be stepping back from the show to pursue other ventures. At the time, a statement from FX noted that the announcement “does not rule out the possibility of doing something in the future.”
Burd released his latest album, Penith (The Dave Soundtrack), in 2024 as both his second studio album and the TV series’ official soundtrack. It includes tracks from Dave’s three seasons.
His first album, Professional Rapper, debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 chart and included collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Fetty Wap and T-Pain. In 2019, he launched Earth, a music-led initiative calling attention to climate change.
DreamWorks Animation’s 2025 releases included Dog Man, The Bad Guys 2 and Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie. Universal Pictures released a live-action remake of DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon.
For a 2023 cover story, Burd told THR that he holds lofty aspirations for his next projects. “I want to be in things that are up for best picture discussion, or I want to make my own revolutionary comedy or drama,” he said at the time. “I mean, I named my production company Gr8 Films because I want to be synonymous with the best level of art.”
Burd is represented by UTA and Hansen Jacobson.
