A Very Smurfy Movie

Under the “…why?!” category of films being made now is the Smurf movie, based on the 1980’s cartoon, comes voice casting news, which makes this go from “ho-hum” to Smurf-tastic.

Last week, is was said that Neil Patrick Harris (where isn’t he lately?) had signed on to the project. Now Variety is reporting that Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler in the X-Men films – he likes to work a little blue) and George Lopez are in talks to play Gutsy Smurf and Grouchy Smurf. Singer Katy Perry has signed on to play Smurfette, the only girl in the Smurf village.  The best news, casting wise, is that Jonathan Winters has also joined the film as Papa Smurf.  Winters is no newcomer to animated films, and has voiced a variety of Hanna-Barbera characters way back in the day and one can only hope they let him improvise a bit. Even if what he does doesn’t make it into the film, maybe we can get a few “outtakes” during the end credits.

Raja Gosnell (Scooby-Doo) is set directed this this live-action/animated film. The Smurfs is slated for release on July 29, 2011.