The latest collaboration between Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox takes 3D computer animation to the summer 2016 Olympic City with its new movie “Rio”. Currently casting, the studio is in negotiations with amazing voice talents Anne Hathaway and Neil Patrick for starring roles. Both have previous experience lending their voices for animation. Hathaway for the lead role of Red in “Hoodwinked” while Harris in the recent movie showing in theaters today, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”.
The film follows the tale of a nerdy macaw bird that leaves his cage in the small town of Minnesota to pursue the exotic summer city of Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian-born director Carlos Saldanha, who directed all three “Ice Age” hits, had been developing “Rio” for years. Another Rio-born talent, actor Rodrigo Santoro is already attached to the film. In charge for production are veterans Chris Jenkins (”Surf’s Up”) and Bruce Anderson (”Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!”).
With the three “Ice Age” movies, “Horton” and “Robots,” Blue Sky and Fox have generated $2.4 billion in worldwide grosses since 2002 under the direction of Saldanha except for “Horton”. This new film is expected to rival the success of its predecessors in animation with a top-class experienced crew and cast.
Production is set to begin later this year. “Rio” is scheduled for release on theaters on April 8, 2011.
