Currently well known for playing Saul Berenson on Showtime’s hit series “Homeland,” Mandy Patinkin is set to voice Papa Smurf in the upcoming, still-untitled animated Smurfs adventure, set to hit theaters next year. The Hollywood Reporter has the news, bringing word that Patinkin is in final negotiations to take the part, previously voiced in Sony Pictures Animation’s live-action / CGI franchise by the late Jonathan Winters.
The first film, which was released on July 29, 2011, cost about $110 million to make and earned $563.7 million worldwide. The $105 million second installment, released on July 31, 2013, took quite a dip in earnings, making $347.5 million worldwide.
The new film, which be entirely animated, is being directed by Kelly Asbury, whose previous animated features as helmer include Gnomeo & Juliet, Shrek 2 and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. He’s been providing updates on the progress of the new feature on production Tumblr The Blue Print. Among the recent updates are a behind-the-scenes featurette looking at the prop making progress, which you can check out in the player below, and a look at a very special Smurf-themed birthday cake SPA presented to the director yesterday. (Happy Birthday, Mr. Asbury! We here at ComingSoon.net hope it was the Smurfiest!)
Scripted by Karey Kirkpatrick and Chris Poche, the new film is set for release on August 5, 2016.
