Jimmy Kimmel is the latest star to lend his voice to Paramount’s “Smurfs.”
The live-action animated hybrid film features Rihanna as Smurfette, John Goodman as Papa Smurf, as well as James Corden, Nick Offerman, JP Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, Kurt Russell and DJ Marshmello. It’s unclear who Kimmel will be voicing in the sprawling ensemble.
“Smurfs” follows Smurfette as she leads her tiny, blue-skinned kin into the real world to save Papa Smurf after he’s mysteriously captured by evil wizards. The reboot is directed by Chris Miller, whose credits include “Shrek the Third” and “Puss in Boots.” Pam Brady wrote the script, based on the comics created by the Belgian artist known as Peyo. The film opens in theaters on July 18.
The Smurfs have been the subject of several feature films over the years, most recently at Sony with 2011’s “The Smurfs,” starring Neil Patrick Harris, and its two sequels, 2013’s “The Smurfs 2” and 2017’s “Smurfs: The Lost Village.” The franchise moved to Paramount and Nickelodeon in 2022.
Kimmel has hosted the late night show “Jimmy Kimmel Live” for over two decades and also serves as the emcee of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” He’s also voiced characters in “Paw Patrol the Movie,” “The Boss Baby” and “The Boss Baby: Family Business.”
Kimmel is represented by Dixon Talent, Inc. and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein.