The masterminds behind the cartoon concept group Jamie Hewlett and Damon Albarn were working on an ‘Elizabethan opera’ to follow up the success of their Monkey adaptation.

Reports say scheduling issues between the pair and Watchmen writer Moore have forced them to cancel the plans.

Gorillaz are increasingly busy playing Glastonbury Festival this month and live arena shows later this year.

And today their new blockbuster video for single On Melancholy Hill has also leaked.

It tells the story of Russell, Noodle, 2-D and Murdoc’s journey to Plastic Beach in the shark-shaped submarine briefly glimpsed in the Stylo promo.

Appearing along the way in cartoon form are album guests Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, De La Soul and Gruff Rhys. They’re spotted in smaller submarine’s following the group’s shark to their island destination.

Those guests are likely to appear with the band at their Glasto show on June 26.

The On Melancholy Hill vid’ is available to buy on iTunes packaged with remixes of the track and their earlier Plastic Beach single Stylo.