Demi Lovato, Rainn Wilson, Mandy Patinkin join Get Smurfy voice cast

LOS ANGELES — Demi Lovato, Mandy Patinkin and Rainn Wilson have boarded Sony Pictures Animation’s fully computer-animated Smurf reboot Get Smurfy. The castings were announced in conjunction with Global Smurfs Day yesterday (June 14).

Lovato will voice Smurfette and Patinkin will play Papa Smurf. Wilson will lend his voice to the evil wizard Gargamel.

“We have gathered a group of filmmakers and artists who have grown up with these lovable characters, and Get Smurfy will be imbued with the same spirit of adventure that first made all of us lifelong fans of these little blue guys... and girl,” says Kristine Belson, president of Sony Pictures Animation (SPA).

The pic, which hews back to Smurfs creator Peyo Culliford’s original style, will follow Smurfette and her fellow blue creatures as they search the Enchanted Forest for the fabled Smurfs village. The film will answer some long-held questions about the Smurfs, including why there’s only one girl among them.

“We felt it was important to take a very different approach with this origin story. It returns to the roots of Peyo’s creation in this CG-animated adventure,” explains producer Jordan Kerner in a statement. “I hope it will delight not only fans but audiences worldwide. We couldn’t be more excited with the talented new cast we’re starting to assemble for our Smurfy reboot.”

The film is being helmed by Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2, Gnomeo & Juliet), and co-produced by Mary Ellen Bauder. “The continued popularity of the Smurfs is unmistakable, and this new outing will return them to the fully animated world that launched them,” said Asbury.

SPA plans to release the film on March 31, 2017. The studio has Hotel Transylvania 2 slated for September. VARIETY.COM/ REUTERS