Sony Pictures Animation has set an Aug. 11, 2017, release date for “The Emoji Movie,” making it the first title to land on the date.

Sony won rights in July to the project, based on a pitch by Eric Siegel and Anthony Leondis about the round-headed figures that have become ubiquitous in social media. The duo are co-writing the script with Leondis directing. The logline is under wraps.

Michelle Raimo Kouyate is producing. She stepped down in July after five years as production president of Sony Pictures Animation and signed a first-look deal.

Leondis directed the short “Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters” and the DreamWorks Animation feature “B.O.O.: Bureau Of Otherworldly Operations.” Siegel was a producer on the TBS series “Men At Work” and a consulting producer on ABC’s “Family Tools.”

Leondis is repped by WME. Siegel is repped by APA and New Wave.