Exodus Productions’ executive producer Max Howard announced today that John Cusack and Emmy and SAG award winner Sean Hayes have joined the voice cast of its CG-animated feature comedy Igor.
Cusack will voice the character of “Igor,” a potentially gifted and brilliant scientist, but, born with a hunch on his back, he is forced to serve a cruel scientist named Dr. Glickenstein.
Hayes (“Will & Grace”) will play “Brian The Brain,” one of Igor’s sidekicks and inventions… a very early prototype. This brain-in-a-jar is anything but and a bit more than half empty.
“John and Sean are both terrific actors and ideally cast in their roles,” said Igor director, Tony Leondis. “We couldn’t be more excited to have them join an already fantastic voice cast.”
Igor is a playfully irreverent comedy that brings a new twist to the classic monster genre. It tells the story of an evil scientist’s hunchbacked lab assistant with big dreams of becoming a scientist himself and winning the annual Evil Science Fair.
The voice cast also includes Jeremy Piven, Jay Leno, Jennifer Coolidge, Molly Shannon, Steve Buscemi and John Cleese.
The CG-animated film is being produced at Sparx Animation Studios, SAS, a Paris, France-based leader in key-frame CG-animation. Set for an October 24, 2008 release, Igor will be distributed by The Weinstein Company which has an all-encompassing theatrical and DVD distribution deal including North America as well as representing international rights. TWC secured film distribution for most foreign territories, including TFM in France, at last year’s Cannes Film Festival and American Film Market as well as the recent European Film Market in Berlin.
Award-winning animation veteran Tony Leondis (The Prince of Egypt, Lilo & Stitch 2) is directing the screenplay by Chris McKenna (“American Dad!”) and being produced by seasoned animation executive Howard, who has collaborated on numerous animated blockbusters such as Disney’s The Lion King and Aladdin, and Warner Bros.’ Space Jam and The Iron Giant.
