Source:Universal Pictures

November 13, 2008

Universal Pictures announced today principal voice talent for its inaugural 3-D CGI feature, Despicable Me, the studio's first film from billion-dollar animation producer Chris Meledandri ("Ice Age" franchise, Robots, Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who). Meledandri will produce through his new Universal Pictures-based family-entertainment shingle, Illumination Entertainment, which has a multi-picture deal to deliver live-action and animated all-audience films for the Universal slate.

Lending their voices to the project is an accomplished cast of actors that includes: Steve Carell; Jason Segel; Kristen Wiig; Will Arnett; Russell Brand; Jemaine Clement; Jack McBrayer; and Julie Andrews.

"Everybody has a wicked side, whether they are six or sixty, and yet so often storytelling draws a sharp line between good and evil," says Meledandri. "After years of taking my sons to the movies and having them leave the theatre with the villain as their favorite character, we decided to make a movie where the villain is the protagonist."

Directed by Chris Renaud & Pierre Coffin and written by Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio, Despicable Me is produced by Meledandri, John Cohen and Janet Healy.

"Chris has an unerring track record of producing top notch animated family films with attitude, wit and style, and we are excited to announce his first project for our studio from Universal's co-venture with him, Illumination Entertainment," said Co-Chairman of Universal Pictures David Linde. "'Despicable Me' will introduce a memorable, hilarious cast of characters brought to life by Chris' imagination, his animators' talents and this incredibly gifted voice cast. We are certain that a new classic is being created."