Animated movies are big business, and perhaps the easiest franchises Hollywood builds on a regular basis. How many Cars movies are there? Did we really need all those Madagascar films? Probably not, but animation draws in huge audiences coming to hear and not see their favorite celebrities. Some big names have signed up for two anticipated animated projects, Lego Batman and Blazing Samurai, that will be hitting theaters in a couple of years.
First up, Ralph Fiennes has signed on to Lego Batman as....Alfred. OF COURSE!!! Fiennes knows a thing or two about servitude thanks to The Grand Budapest Hotel, but he also knows how about secret missions and stuff due to his role as M in Spectre. He joins Will Arnett who is reprising his role of the Caped Crusader from The Lego Movie, Channing Tatum voices Robin, Rosario Dawson is Batgirl, and Zach Galifianakis is in talks to play the Joker. Chris McKay is directing Lego Batman for release on February 10th 2017. [THR]
An animated homage to Mel Brooks' classic comedy, Blazing Saddles? Yes please! Brooks himself, along with Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Cera, Djimon Hounsou, Michelle Yeoh, and more have joined Blazing Samurai, about a scrappy dog hero named Hank (Cera) who hopes to become a great warrior. He gets his chance when his town of Kakamucho is attacked by an evil feline warlord. Rob Minkoff (The Lion King) is producing along with Brooks, while Chris Bailey (Alvin and the Chipmunks) will direct. Also part of the voice cast are George Takei, Mel B., Gabriel Iglesias, Aasif Mandvi, Sandra Tsing Loh, and Heavenly Joy Jerkins. Blazing Samurai opens August 4th 2017.
