The voice cast for Reel FX Animation’s next feature The Book of Life has been announced: Channing Tatum, Zoe Saldana, Diego Luna, Christina Applegate, Ice Cube, Kate del Castillo and Ron Perlman will be voicing some of the characters in the CG-animated comedy, which will be released by Fox on Oct. 17, 2014.
The movie, which is produced by Guillermo del Toro and directed by Jorge Gutierrez, the co-creator of Nick’s El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, is described as the journey of Manolo, a young man who is torn between the fulfilling family expectations and the dreams of his heart. Before making his decision, he finds himself on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears. The script was penned by Gutierrez and Doug Langdale (El Tigre, The Looney Tunes Show, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness). The original score and songs will be composed by Gustavo Santaolalla (Brokeback Mountain, Babel). Joining Brad Booker, Aaron Berger and Carina Schulze are also listed as producers.
The film’s impressive voice cast also includes Cheech Marin, Hector Elizondo, Placido Domingo, Ana de la Reguera, Eugenio Derbez, comedian Gabriel Iglesias, radio personality Ricardo (“El Mandril”) Sanchez, and Danny Trejo.
Book is being overseen by Aron Warner, Reel FX’s president of animation, who was one the producers of the Shrek franchise as well as exec producing next month’s time-traveling turkeys movie Free Birds.
“Like the most glorious and secret tortilla soup ever made, The Book of Life is cooking and the flavors are starting to explode on the screen,” Gutierrez told Animation Magazine last month. “Our humble little epic film is looking, sounding and feeling like nothing out there. Inspired by all the tall tales I have lived and heard about from my family in Mexico, this film comes straight from the heart. And if you love El Dia de Los Muertos, your head will explode when you see what we are doing!”
Three cheers for el jefe and his amazing-sounding movie!
