It looks like some famous faces may be on their way to Jellystone Park. Anna Faris, Dan Aykroyd, and Justin Timberlake are in talks to star in the upcoming Yogi Bear feature film.
Created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Yogi Bear debuted on The Huckleberry Hound Show in 1958 and soon graduated to his own show, The Yogi Bear Show and numerous spin-offs.
Yogi was originally voiced by the legendary Daws Butler. Following his death in 1988, many of Butler’s characters were taken over by Greg Burson, one of Butler’s students. Yogi’s pal, Boo-Boo, was performed by Don Messick until his retirement in the 1990s and has since been played by Tom Kenny and John Kricfalusi.
When the upcoming live-action Yogi movie was discussed last year, Ash Brannon (Surf’s Up, Toy Story 2) was slated to direct. The story was being written by Joshua Sternin and Jeffrey Ventimilia, former executive producers of That ’70s Show.
 Loading ... |
Things have changed behind the scenes. The picture is now being directed by Eric Brevig (Journey to the Center of the Earth). Brad Copeland (Wild Hogs, My Name is Earl) is working on the script which is based on the earlier draft by Sternin and Ventimilia.
The movie’s story is expected to revolve around Yogi and his pal Boo-Boo outsmarting Ranger Smith in their pursuit of picnic basket goodies. The animated characters will exist in the real world and will be generated via CGI, in a similar fashion to the Alvin and the Chipmunks feature.
If all goes as planned, Faris will play a nature documentarian who follows the bears’ antics. Aykroyd is expected to voice Yogi while Timberlake may provide the voice of faithful Boo-Boo.
Shooting on the Yogi Bear movie is expected to get underway next month in New Zealand.
What do you think? Are you looking forward to seeing this movie? Do you like the idea of movie stars performing animated characters instead of the traditional voices?
I agree with Rootleaf…. lookin’ forward to seeing the movie… I love Tom Cavanagh from way back when he did ED. I miss that show. Ooops gettin’ off track here. Ok now, Dan Aykroyd as the voice for Yogi…. OMG! ! NO!! ! ! I just heard the trailer. I have to tell you it is the worse voicing I’ve ever heard in the history of motion pictures. There are better sounding voice over artiest out there that can sound closer to Daws Butler than Dan Aykroyd. What’s with Justin Timerlake being Boo Boo Bear. What were these insane people… Read more »
Love the idea of the movie… dont need hollywood actors to voice the characters though. Go with traditional whomever sounds like Daws Butler the best!