It’s been a while since we’ve received any news regarding the upcoming Angry Birds movie. The last time we heard about it was when it was announced that newcomers Clay Kaytis and Fergal Reilly were set to direct the film. But now, thanks to the fans of the game, we know a lot more about the film’s cast and characters!
Voice Cast
Collider reported that Rovio had revealed the voice cast of the movie adaptation of their popular game Angry Birds by way of having asked their fans to sling one billion birds in the game in order to unlock the info (a brilliant marketing move on their part).
As a result, we learned that the main cast will consist of Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Danny McBride, Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph, and Peter Dinklage.
Sudeikis will play Red (the red bird), a bird with anger issues, Gad will play Chuck (the yellow bird), McBride will play Bomb (the black bird), described as volatile, and Hader plays an unnamed character who’s “joined the pork side.” Rounding out the main cast is Matilda (played by Maya Rudolph) and the legendary Mighty Eagle (played by Peter Dinklage).
In addition, they are joined by an extensive supporting cast consisting of up-and-coming comedic talents: Keegan-Michael Key, Kate McKinnon, Tony Hale, Ike Barinholtz, Hannibal Buress, Cristela Alonzo, Jillian Bell, Danielle Brooks, Romeo Santos and YouTube superstars Smosh.
Producer John Cohen had some pretty nice things to say about this impressive cast: “I’m extremely proud of this cast. Not only do we have Jason, Josh, Danny, Bill, Maya, and Peter bringing these characters to life, but they’re surrounded by an all-star ensemble of emerging comedic talent – these are some of the funniest people out there today, and we’re thrilled to have them all on board.”
Dwight Caines, Theatrical Marketing President for Sony Pictures, had this to say about Rovio’s unique approach to the film’s marketing: “With two and a half billion gamers around the world, Angry Birds is one of those brands that can drive massive fan engagement. That’s why we wanted to bring this unlock to the fans first. Our filmmakers are cooking up a hilarious movie, and we know these fans can’t wait to see how they’re going to bring the Angry Birds’ story to life on the big screen of movie theaters.”
Character Designs
Lastly, Bianca Juti, Chief Marketing Officer of Rovio, jokingly teased about the character designs for the movie, stating: “We heard limbs and dialogue were all the rage in modern animation so we went all in. Not just one, but all of our characters have legs and wings! Except for the pigs, that is.”
I honestly have to say that I’m quite impressed with the designs. The look and essence of their original designs were maintained, but with an eye towards realistic and anthropomorphized details. The cast is also looking good as well, with a mix of known talents and newcomers.
So far, this film is actually shaping up to be pretty good. They are certainly off to a good start with the marketing. Should all cards be played right, we might end up with a surprise hit on our hands in a similar fashion to this year’s The LEGO Movie (and of course, a new franchise for Sony).
Angry Birds lands in theaters July 1, 2016
