After announcing development on the live-action/CGI hybrid series late last year, Netflix has set an ensemble cast for Lost Ollie that is set to include Jonathan Groff (Frozen II), Gina Rodriguez (Carmen Sandiego), Mary J. Blige (Trolls World Tour) and more.
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LOST OLLIE – a heartwarming story about a lost toy searching for home – is excited to announce the cast for the upcoming family limited series!
Find out more about the cast belowpic.twitter.com/wuyFQ2HaTy
— Netflix Family (@netflixfamily) March 9, 2021
The limited series, created, written and executive produced by Shannon Tindle (Kubo and the Two Strings), is inspired by William Joyce’s Ollie’s Odyssey and centers on a lost toy on an epic adventure, searching across the country for the boy who lost him, and the story of the boy who lost more than a best friend. A heartwarming journey to reunite in the face of all the dangers that childhood can throw at them.
Groff, who previously worked with Netflix on the acclaimed crime thriller Mindhunter, will star as Ollie, a handmade toy rabbit stitched together from odds and ends. Ollie has a pure spirit with a heart of gold and never ruins a chance to make friends. He’s been best friends with Billy since forever, until one day he ends up in a resale shop with no way home. Though he’s often afraid of the unknown, Ollie puts on a brave face and sets off to find Billy, meeting other toys to help him along the way
Blige, who was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the historical drama Mudbound and starred in the first season of The Umbrella Academy, will voice Rosy, a raggedy teddy bear stitched together from other toys. Rosy is a fearless warrior who is deeply passionate with inspiring confidence. While unsure of Ollie at first, she becomes an important ally as she joins them on their journey.
Click here to purchase Joyce’s iconic novel!
Tim Blake Nelson, coming off of HBO’s acclaimed Watchmen series and playing the titular role in Netflix’s The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, will appear as Zozo, a clown doll who is an old toy and an even older soul. Zozo is a true gentleman with a good sense of humor, and after meeting Ollie and hearing his story, he agrees to help Ollie on his journey.
Rodriguez, who led the streamer’s recently-concluded Carmen Sandiego animated series and recurs on Emmy-winning adult animated series Big Mouth, will star as Sharon aka Momma, Billy’s mother, a loving woman who inspires creativity and imagination in her son. She makes sure to cherish their time together, teaching Billy all the things he’ll need to know to find happiness in the future.
Jake Johnson, who led Netflix’s short-lived Hoops, will star as James aka Daddy, Billy’s father, who is overworked and stressed, doing his best to take care of Billy and his wife, Sharon. Sometimes that stress leads to being short with Billy, but he’s doing all he can to make a good life for his son.
Kesler Talbot, who recently appeared in the now-defunct-Quibi’s horror anthology 50 States of Fright, will play Billy, a young boy with a mind bursting with creativity. He shares a magical bond with his toy Ollie, a homemade rabbit made by his beloved mother, who joins him on all of his adventures. When Ollie gets lost, Billy embarks on a mission to find him.
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Lost Ollie, consisting of four 45 minute episodes, is being helmed by Peter Ramsey, who previously worked with Johnson on Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, who is also executive producing alongside Tindle, Shawn Levy and Josh Barry via 21 Laps Entertainment (Stranger Things), Brandon Oldenburg (CCO of Flight School Studio) and Lampton Enochs with Emily Morris serving as co-executive producer.
Production is currently underway in Vancouver, Canada on the project with Industrial Light & Magic (The Mandalorian) handling the CGI characters for the series.
(Photo Credits: Getty Images/Netflix)
