Penguins: Ed Helms to Narrate Disneynature’s Feature Film

February 26, 2019

Ed Helms (The Office, The Hangover trilogy, Tag) is diving in with Penguins this spring as the narrator of Disneynature’s upcoming theatrical feature. Helms recorded an announcement video for the new project, which you can check out below!

The coming-of-age story follows an Adélie penguin named Steve who joins millions of fellow males in the icy Antarctic spring on a quest to build a suitable nest, find a life partner and start a family. None of it comes easily for him, especially considering he’s targeted by everything from killer whales to leopard seals, who unapologetically threaten his happily ever after.

“Disney movies are filled with poignancy and real emotion, but also are extremely funny and relatable—this movie is no different,” said Helms. “It’s a true-life adventure with real footage of penguins in Antarctica, but told in a way that tugs at your heartstrings a little and also has quite a few chuckles. For me, this movie is a very cool mash-up of narration and character work. I get to voice Steve’s inner monologue as well as straight narration. It was a really fun challenge for me — a privilege getting to imagine what this penguin might be thinking — and I’m really excited about it.”

From the filmmaking team behind Bears and Chimpanzee, Disneynature’s Penguins opens in theaters and select IMAX nationwide on April 17 in time for Earth Day.

Penguins is the eighth theatrical release for Disneynature, the first new Disney-branded film label from The Walt Disney Studios in more than 60 years. The label was launched in April 2008 to bring the world’s top nature filmmakers together to capture a variety of wildlife subjects and stories.

Disneynature’s first seven theatrical releases, Earth, Oceans, African Cats, Chimpanzee, Bears, Monkey Kingdom and Born in China, are seven of the top eight highest-grossing feature-length nature films to date, with Chimpanzee garnering a record-breaking opening weekend for the genre.

Disneynature’s commitment to conservation is a key pillar of the label and the films empower the audience to help make a difference, with each film driving significant conservation outcomes, supporting wildlife featured in the films.