Owen Wilson Barks for ‘Marmaduke’

Owen Wilson jumps from one dog film into another as he has signed on to voice Great Dane “Marmaduke”, Fox and New Regency’s adaptation of the long-running comic strip. Wilson has a history of doing voice-overs for “Cars” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox” while his last film which starred him as the owner of a hyperactive Labrador in “Marley and Me” deals with dogs.

Fox’s live action / CGI adaptation is scheduled for a June 4, 2010 release. Already part of the cast are Judy Greer, Lee Pace and William H. Macy who portray humans, while Fergie, Emma Stone, George Lopez, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Steve Coogan, Damon Wayans and Marlon Wayans lend their voices as well.

The story begins with the Winslow family in the process of moving from Kansas to Orange County with their chaos-ensuing dog Marmaduke. Here we witness “Marmaduke navigate a volatile Mutts vs. Pedigrees turf war, woo the purebred of his dreams and overcome a fall from grace.”

Scribes Tim Rasmussen and Vince Di Meglio are behind the screenplay. Director Tom Dey of “Shanghai Noon” and “Failure to Launch” will take over direction.

20^th Century Fox had been the got-to-studio for anthropomorphic animals. Among their works are ‘Garfield” and “Alvin and the Chipmunks”. These kids’ films have driven parents crazy with its silliness but they have amassed huge at the box office.