Universal and Illumination may be on the verge of their biggest year for animation yet, and that's saying a lot coming from the folks behind both Despicable Me movies and Minions. Last summer they had a massive hit with The Secret Life of Pets, and now they're clearing their throats for Sing, an animated musical with a star-studded cast that includes Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon.
Ever wonder what McConaughey would look like as a theater-owning koala? Well now you can check him out in a new image chillin' with his character Buster Moon, a producer who launches a singing competition to save his beloved theater. Sing, which boats 85 classic tracks and an original song by Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande, takes place in a world just like ours...except for the whole talking animals thing.
Other images reveal Reese Witherspoon and Rosita, Scarlett Johansson and Ash, Seth MacFarlane and Mike, Tori Kelly and Meena, Taron Egerton and Johnny, and Nick Kroll hamming it up alongside Gunter.
Matthew McConaughey: “I’ve always regarded Buster as the ultimate creator…a showman who refuses to accept defeat and a guy who will accomplish the impossible through sheer force of will. Others may see his theater collapsing around him, but not Buster. Through his eyes, you’ll begin to imagine the crown jewel of this incredible town…a place where people can truly transform.”
Reese Witherspoon: “Ever since she was a girl, Rosita has held on to this tiny part of herself she’s been hesitant to share with the world. But once she genuinely owns who she is, this shy mom and wife realizes that it would be criminal not to unleash her talents. In fact, it’s the love and passion Rosita’s given and received that pours out of her when she embraces her inner diva and lets loose.”
Scarlett Johansson: “Once Ash understands that all of the attention, effort and energy she’s been giving her worthless boyfriend has been standing in the way of her own musical gifts, she transforms into a badass. Ash eschews outdated expectations that she should deliver a pop-princess act on the stage and just rocks it out with original music. I adore her.”
Seth MacFarlane: “What I like about this character is that he has zero concept of just how small he is. Mike is a whirlwind mix of bravado, swagger and showmanship, and he genuinely believes he has nothing to prove. He needs the contest money because he’s made some very poor decisions, and he’s certain that his larger-than-life personality and stage persona hold the ticket to winning.”
Tori Kelly: “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have a bit of Meena inside. She’s that timid kid who desperately wants to share her gifts with the world, but is always second guessing herself. As an artist, I went to that place of insecurity inside teenage Tori to find my inner Meena. Then you take a deep breath, shake off the nerves and just let the music take over.”
Taron Egerton: “I think that one of the biggest fears we all have is that we will disappoint our parents. All you want is their acceptance, but as you come into your own, you begin to realize that your dreams don’t always intersect with theirs. Johnny’s relationship with his father epitomizes this. He only needs Big Daddy to listen, to actually hear him, just once. If that happens, Johnny believes he can become his own man and really soar.”
Nick Kroll: “Gunter knows what we all should: Everything is better in a gold track suit. He is the yin to Rosita’s yang. If she’s hesitant, insecure and brilliantly talented…then Gunter is the one who’s first to hit the stage and shake his piggy patootie; he’s a legend in his own mind. When I first experienced Reese and myself as Rosita and Gunter on the screen, I honestly couldn’t stop grinning.”
Directed by Garth Jennings, Sing opens December 21st.
