Fox Filmed Entertainment co-chair Tom Rothman and Fox Animation Studios president Vanessa Morrison gave a presentation on the Ice Age franchise today to potential licensees and promotional partners. Besides talking about the origin of the relationship with animation house Blue Sky Studio, Morrison introduced the cast of the 2012 installment in the franchise, Ice Age: Continental Drift. Ray Romano is back as Manny; Queen Latifah returns as Ellie; Dennis Leary as Diego; John Leguizamo as Sid; Seann William Scott & Josh Peck as Crash & Eddie. New to the cast are Jeremy Renner, who will portray Gutt; Wanda Sykes as Granny; Aziz Ansari is Walter; Keke Palmer is Peaches; hip hop star Drake is Ethan; and Jennifer Lopez is Shira, a snow leopard (which falls under that overall Fox deal she made to be a judge on American Idol). Romano and Latifah told the story of the new movie to the potential licensees and promotional partners and showed pencil tests and rough early animation. Morrison also talked about the franchise’s record-breaking success, what the growth of the franchise has meant for Fox, a Christmas TV special in November titled Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas on Fox broadcasting, a multiplayer game online, a mobile game, and a possible Ice Age On Ice touring show. Gee, you’d think this was Disney…
Jennifer Lopez, Jeremy Renner, Wanda Sykes, & Drake Join Cast Of 2012 'Ice Age'
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I’ll never understand how the third Ice Age huge box office returns. That thing was boring.
Nothing against Sykes personally, but her voice is grating. Bad choice for the Ice Age franchise! Heck, if you want a granny, how about hiring one?
Where’s a Mass Extinction Event when you need it?
Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, Dennis Leary, John Leguizamo, Wanda Sykes, Aziz Ansari, Drake, Jennifer Lopez…By God, what a stellar cast of egocentric losers!
I’ll watch “Ice Age:CD” when hell freezes over…oh wait, isn’t that what an ice age is?
Aww, do you think Jennifer Lopez thought her FOX deal would involve an actual live-action movie? And now she’s stuck voicing a supporting character in a ran-into-the-ground franchise?
Poor J.Lo
I think they out-Shreked Shrek.
Is there anything that Renner isn’t in at the moment?
One feels that perhaps deep down, he may think he is a fraud, and is trying to cash in on as many possible projects before he is discovered.
It’s probably just that he was in the bushes for 15+ years and is now super-stoked that everybody wants him. Wouldn’t you jump on everything too?
Yeah. Look how well that worked for Terrence Howard. I hope Renner doesn’t let it all go to his head.
At least the Ice Age movies have good character and story…there’s a reason they draw in huge box office…they have something for everyone. Looking forward to checking it out… Saw the teaser in front of “Rio” and it was great.
Great voice cast! I like when animation talent are picked based on choosing the right voices for the job, that is where all the performance happens and that just makes the animation that much better. And i’m really curious to see what Renner does with his role. Cool choice.
Just seems like more random, trendy stunt-casting to me. Even Pixar is often guilty of this. (I find it ironic that WDAS seems to be mostly avoiding this in recent years. And yes, I think full-time voice actors need more love.)
My kids LOVE the Ice Age Series!!! We have all the DVDs. Wanda Sykes is a crack up. It is a great cast already and now with all these additions, including Academy Award nominated actor Jeremy Renner – wow! I hope he has a major role – he is a wonderful actor. Adults may be tired of it but kids never will – this is going to be a huge box office hit.
the reason everyone wants Renner is because it has been awhile since someone with this caliber talent has graced Hollywood’s presence!