DreamWorks Animation has unveiled the latest batch of talents primed to wrap their tonsils around the character voices in Rise of the Guardians, the studio’s 3D ‘toon set for release in 2012 and not to be confused with any Legends of any Guardians of Ga'Hoole. Hugh Jackman, Chris Pine, Jude Law, Alec Baldwin and Isla Fisher have agreed to step in front of the microphone.
Guardians follows the work of the immortal group who safeguard the imagination of ankle biters around the world. They’re threatened by Pitch (Law), a bogeyman-style villain who decides he wants to take over. So Jack Frost (Pine), Bunnymund (Jackman), North (Baldwin) and Tooth (Fisher) team up to stop the sprite’s plan. In case you were wondering, yes, those last three are the Easter Bunny, Santa and the Tooth Fairy.
And there’s been a change in the line-up, since Leonardo DiCaprio was announced as Jack back in 2009 when the film was announced, but has since dropped off the roster.
Peter Ramsey is the man in charge of the movie, which has been developing for a while and has a script based on Meet The Robinsons author William Joyce’s upcoming book series The Guardians of Childhood. Playwright David Lindsay-Abaire did the writing, following his excellent recent work adapting his own Rabbit Hole, while Guillermo del Toro has been involved as executive producer.
"It's a thrill to be working with such an all-star team of actors and filmmakers," Bill Damaschke, DWA's chief creative officer tells Variety. "When we bring Bill Joyce's imaginative vision to the screen in 2012, audiences will experience an incredible story with a truly epic sense of adventure."
While we’re sort of disappointed to see the company head back to the celeb-heavy voice line-up after How to Train your Dragon did so well with more of a character actor cast, the sheer success of Dragon has us hoping that DreamWorks has figured out how to use them properly. We’ll find out in November 2012 when the thing arrives.