Harry Potter‘s Rupert Grint will be leading the voice cast for the English-language version of Juan Jose Campanella’s Spanish-Argentine co-pro CG feature, Foosball. Variety broke the announcement after the film’s success at the San Sebastian festival. Grint will voice the jerp, Amadeo, a shy table soccer genius whose game figures come to life to help him save his town and win the heart of his childhood sweetheart–both under threat from a vain soccer star.
Foosball producer Jorge Estrada Mora also announced at the festival that Anthony Head (Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters) will play international soccer ace Flash, who is out for revenge after Amadeo beat him at table soccer as a kid. The White Queen‘s Eve Ponsonby will voice Amadeo’s love interest, Laura. To appeal to British audiences, the cast will also include BBC soccer expert Jonathan Pearce–who will commentate on the film’s climactic stadium game with impersonator Alistair McGowan–and TV stars Alex Norton, Peter Serafinowicz and ex-player-turned-comedian Lewis MacLeod.
The English-language version of Foosball is being produced by London’s 369 Production, lead by Victor Glynn and David Burgess. The film will make its U.K. debut at the London Film Festival of October 19. So far, the $21 million film has earned just under $14 million in Argentina, where Universal is distributing. Universal has also acquired Spain and LatAm rights for the film–a “neutral” Spanish version is being prepared for LatAm outside Argentina. The film has also been sold to Russia, Brazil, China, Italy, Korea and other territories.
