One thing the studios are learning... family films, when done right, RAKE in the bucks. With that in mind, Universal has lined up the voice talent for its upcoming animated film, The Tale of Despereaux.
The film is based on the childrens' book (and Newberry Medal winner) The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo. It tells the story of Despereaux (That's pronounced "Despero" for the franco-deficient), a mouse with a romantic heart and free spirit who falls desperately in love with Princess Pea. The fates become intertwined by chance, along with a rat named Roscuro who likes the light, a dim-witted servant girl named Miggery Sow, the King, the Jailer, and the Cook.
Now, I don't know how many of you keep up on childrens' literature, but in my not-so-humble opinion, the award winners tend to be books that parents love and kids are indifferent to. In other words, the authors are not writing for the kids... they're writing for the parents who want to think their kids are smart. Trust me... I've seen enough of them. You can tell just by the pretentious titles.
Ahem. But I digress...
Anyway, look for Justin Long as Despereaux, Dustin Hoffman will play Roscuro the rat, Kevin Kline will be the Cook, Robbie Coltrane as the Jailer, Tracey Ullman as the Miggery Sow, Sigourney Weaver as the story's narrator, William H. Macy as Despereaux's father, Stanley Tucci as a genie, and Christopher Lloyd as an old, blind mouse, according to the list by the Hollywood Reporter.
The movie will be directed by Michael Johnson, with animation by Framestore CFC, which did some visual effects work on Superman Returns and X-Men 3. Look for it during the holiday season of 2008.
