DreamWorks Animation’s next project is packed with talent Wild RobotIncluding writer/director Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon) The film stars Lupita Nyong’o and Pedro Pascal, but one of the supporting characters is voiced by an actor who caught the attention of the San Diego Comic-Con crowd. Star Wars Legendary actor Mark Hamill makes a surprise appearance in the film’s cast.
Of course, in addition to his work in a galaxy far, far away (as well as other projects like Mike Flanagan’s Netflix horror series), Hamill is also a well-known voice actor. The Fall of the House of Usher(Avengers: Endgame) And he’ll be putting his extensive experience to use to voice the grizzly bear Thawne in the animated film based on Peter Brown’s illustrated novel. But first, he explained what drew him to the project.
“When they asked me to consider getting involved [with The Wild Robot]”The first thing I did was order the book, and I was just blown away,” Hamill says. “I wanted to capture even a fraction of the effect of the book, and I have to say, they did a really great job. When I went in to do the voiceover session, they had the footage. I thought one of the great things was to see the book, and they preserved it.”
“But you just have to see it,” he said. “Like when I was trying to explain it a long time ago, Star Wars Without people seeing. [The Wild Robot] It’s emotional and it works on many levels. Kids love it, but everyone will love it. I remember when my kids were little. [I’d] I’ll take you to see this movie [like] Garbage Pail Kids Movie, [and you had to] keep one’s opinions to oneself [because the kids are] I’m enjoying it. [But] This is something the whole family will love.”
On providing the voice for Thorn, Hamill explained, “We always have to take a step back and think, what is my role in the film, what role do I have to play to make it all work? And one of the things that’s unique about the book and the film is that it’s all different animals that are forced into situations where they have to restrain themselves. Obviously the bears are predators, but they have to work for the greater good, so they coexist peacefully with the animals that would normally be their food.”
Thorn is just one of the creatures the robot Rose (voiced by Nyong’o) encounters when she’s stranded in the wilderness, unlike anything she’s ever seen before. It’s a found-family story with plenty of sci-fi elements, and one in which Pascal voices the crafty fox. The rest of the voice cast includes Catherine O’Hara as the Opossum, Bill Nighy as the Goose, Kit Connor as the Gosling, Stephanie Su as the rival robot, and Matt Berry as the Beaver. Ving Rhames also stars in the film.
Wild Robot It will be released in theaters on September 27th.
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