The Smurfs “Get Smurfy” Refresh
Sony pictures has given us the first look at their upcoming Smurfs film. This new outing for the Peyo creations Get Smurfy is a departure from their previous adventures which saw the magical mushroom dwellers enter the real world with a mixture of CGI and live action actors. This latest incarnation sees the Smurfs return to a form closer to their classic look alongside the villainous Gargamel and his cat Azrael.
The new film is directed by Kelly Asbury who’s previous credits include co directing Shrek 2, Gnomeo & Juliet and of course contributing to last years Skwigly Advent Calendar. As well as refreshing the look of the film the voice cast has also been refreshed too with Demi Lovato voicing Smurfette, Rainn Wilson as Gargamel and Papa Smurf will be played by Mandy Patinkin.
The world is about to GET SMURFY in the all-new, fully CG animated feature by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation, coming to theaters worldwide in March 2017.
Full press release from Sony.
To mark this year’s June 14th Global Smurfs Day, Sony Pictures Animation announced the all star cast of Get Smurfy, its brand new, fully computer-animated feature film reminiscent of creator Peyo Culliford’s original recognizable style.
Get Smurfy finds Smurfette and her brothers trekking through the uncharted Enchanted Forest to try and discover a fabled Smurfs village before their nemesis, the evil wizard Gargamel, does. Along the way, some of the mysteries of the little blue creatures’ origins are brought to light: do Smurfs come in any other colors? are their mushroom houses organic? And… why are there 99 boys and only one girl???
Platinum-selling recording artist Demi Lovato has signed to voice the girl-power-ful Smurfette, with Emmy-nominated comic actor Rainn Wilson (The Office, Monsters vs. Aliens) stepping into the evil shoes of the Smurf nemesis, Gargamel. Papa Smurf will be played by Emmy winner Mandy Patinkin (The Princess Bride, Homeland).
Set for a worldwide release on March 31, 2017, the new feature-length animated adventure will be directed by Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2, Gnomeo & Juliet), produced by Jordan Kerner (Charlotte’s Web, The Smurfs) and co-produced by Mary Ellen Bauder (Hotel Transylvania).
Get Smurfy will stand as a brand new entry in the Columbia Pictures movie franchise that has grossed more than $900 million globally.
Says director Kelly Asbury,
“The continued popularity of the Smurfs is unmistakeable, and this new outing will return them to the fully-animated world that launched them.”
Producer Jordan Kerner continues,
“We felt it was important to take a very different approach with this origin story. It returns to the roots of Peyo’s creation in this CG animated adventure. I hope it will delight not only fans but audiences worldwide. We couldn’t be more excited with the talented new cast we’re starting to assemble for our Smurfy reboot! ”
Adds Sony Pictures Animation’s Kristine Belson, “We have gathered a group of filmmakers and artists who have grown up with these loveable characters, and Get Smurfy will be imbued with the same spirit of adventure that first made all of us lifelong fans of these little blue guys…and girl.”