Latest news with #NickelodeonAnimation
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rihanna thrilled to see Smurfs movie being 'birthed'
Rihanna is thrilled that Smurfs is "finally being birthed". The 37-year-old star voices the part of Smurfette in the new animated movie, and Rihanna is delighted that her kids can now finally enjoy the movie. The chart-topping singer - who has RZA, three, and Riot, 23 months, with A$AP Rocky - told Extra: "We get to watch the movie together for the first time. I get to watch it in its full completion. So, that should be interesting. "Everybody gets to watch it on the 18th. So, we're really going for it now. It's finally being birthed." Rihanna - who stars in the new movie alongside the likes of James Corden, Sandra Oh, Jimmy Kimmel, Octavia Spencer, Alex Winter, and Hannah Waddingham - admitted that the film's premiere felt "so far away" when the project began. She said: "We've been working on it for so long. So, like, a few years now, actually. And it's happening … You know, you start working on something and 2025 feels so far away and then we're here." Despite this, Rihanna's sons weren't aware of her involvement with the movie. However, the singer - who has largely put her music career on hold in recent years, in order to focus on other ventures - was looking forward to seeing the reaction of her boys. Asked if they knew that she was playing Smurfette, Rihanna replied: "The boys know nothing, they're being introduced to Smurf Village right now, the blue carpet, and next is going to be me watching their reaction when they realise my voice is coming out of the screen. I can't wait for that one." Rihanna was a Smurfs fan during her younger years, and Ramsey Naito, the president of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation, thinks she's perfectly suited to the role of Smurfette. Ramsey recently told Variety: "When we first met with her, we learned that the Smurfs was her favourite show growing up, and from that moment, everything just clicked. "It felt completely natural to reimagine the Smurfs for today's audience with Rihanna as Smurfette because her genuine love for the franchise made her the perfect fit." Rihanna's "passion" for the Smurfs franchise actually shone through during the production process. The Paramount boss also observed that the film's "secret ingredient is love". Ramsey said: "I think when you're refreshing a beloved franchise like The Smurfs, the secret ingredient is love. And that love must come from people who truly care about the characters and their story. "Rihanna brought that passion, and it shines through in every part of the film."
Perth Now
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Rihanna thrilled to see Smurfs movie being 'birthed'
Rihanna is thrilled that Smurfs is "finally being birthed". The 37-year-old star voices the part of Smurfette in the new animated movie, and Rihanna is delighted that her kids can now finally enjoy the movie. The chart-topping singer - who has RZA, three, and Riot, 23 months, with A$AP Rocky - told Extra: "We get to watch the movie together for the first time. I get to watch it in its full completion. So, that should be interesting. "Everybody gets to watch it on the 18th. So, we're really going for it now. It's finally being birthed." Rihanna - who stars in the new movie alongside the likes of James Corden, Sandra Oh, Jimmy Kimmel, Octavia Spencer, Alex Winter, and Hannah Waddingham - admitted that the film's premiere felt "so far away" when the project began. She said: "We've been working on it for so long. So, like, a few years now, actually. And it's happening … You know, you start working on something and 2025 feels so far away and then we're here." Despite this, Rihanna's sons weren't aware of her involvement with the movie. However, the singer - who has largely put her music career on hold in recent years, in order to focus on other ventures - was looking forward to seeing the reaction of her boys. Asked if they knew that she was playing Smurfette, Rihanna replied: "The boys know nothing, they're being introduced to Smurf Village right now, the blue carpet, and next is going to be me watching their reaction when they realise my voice is coming out of the screen. I can't wait for that one." Rihanna was a Smurfs fan during her younger years, and Ramsey Naito, the president of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation, thinks she's perfectly suited to the role of Smurfette. Ramsey recently told Variety: "When we first met with her, we learned that the Smurfs was her favourite show growing up, and from that moment, everything just clicked. "It felt completely natural to reimagine the Smurfs for today's audience with Rihanna as Smurfette because her genuine love for the franchise made her the perfect fit." Rihanna's "passion" for the Smurfs franchise actually shone through during the production process. The Paramount boss also observed that the film's "secret ingredient is love". Ramsey said: "I think when you're refreshing a beloved franchise like The Smurfs, the secret ingredient is love. And that love must come from people who truly care about the characters and their story. "Rihanna brought that passion, and it shines through in every part of the film."
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ice Spice Cast in Upcoming ‘SpongeBob Squarepants' Film, Will Contribute New Original Song
Ice Spice is taking a trip to Bikini Bottom soon, with the rapper officially securing her spot in an upcoming SpongeBob Squarepants movie. Per Deadline, Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation announced on Tuesday (June 9) the new cast for the upcoming film The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants. Spice was announced alongside Regina Hall, Sherry Cola, Arturo Castro and George Lopez as the newest cast members to join the project. The four-time Grammy-nominated rapper will also record a new, original song for the film, which is set for a December release. More from Billboard KATSEYE Heats Up 'Gnarly' Summer with Ice Spice Remix: Stream It Now Jewish Groups Withdraw From 2025 San Diego Pride Festival Over Kehlani's Support For Palestine Elizabeth Hurley Gushes About Being 'In Love' in Birthday Suit Picture Amid Billy Ray Cyrus Romance The rapper reacted to the news on her Instagram Story, writing, 'yay!!!' to express her excitement. It serves as a full circle moment for Spice, who dropped off the single 'Bikini Bottom' back in 2022. The track appeared on her debut EP Like…?, which reached No. 15 on the Billboard 200. The news comes as Spice is rumored to be dating Sauce Gardner. Back in April, The Bronx rapper posted a since-deleted selfie to her Instagram featuring herself posing with Gardner in front of a mirror. The pair had been fueling dating rumors for months after Sauce posted a photo with Ice Spice on Instagram. Earlier that month, the two attended Adin Ross' boxing event and were awkwardly left hanging on the kiss cam. Musically, Ice Spice made her latest appearance on KATSEYE's 'Gnarly' remix, marking her first release of 2025. The rapper will also appear alongside Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky in Spike Lee's upcoming film Highest 2 Lowest. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nickelodeon, Paramount Animation Smurf Up Annecy Crowds With Packed Slate and Exclusive SpongeBob SquarePants Preview
Annecy crowds were in for a treat as Ramsey Naito, President of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation, and longtime festival supporter, opened the studios' 2025 showcase with a preview of the upcoming projects. 'PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie,' 'The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender' and 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2' are all in active development. 'PAW Patrol' is set to hit theaters July 24, 2026, followed by Aang's animated return on Oct. 9. Fans of pizza-loving martial artist turtles will need to wait until Sept. 27, 2027, for the next 'TMNT' bigscreen appearance — or will they? Read on to find out. More from Variety Cartoon Network Studios Icons McCracken, Tartakovsky, Sugar, Quintel, Ward and Muto on The Studio, State of the Industry and What Inspires Them Taicca and Gobelins Paris Announce Partnership at Annecy to 'Nurture Original Stories from Taiwan': 'Dream Bigger and Reach Further' 'Arcane' Producer Fortiche Teaming With ARTE France on Coming-of-Age Mini-Series 'Miss Saturne' Naito, one of the most prominent animation executives in Hollywood today, expressed her excitement about returning to Annecy. She also unveiled new additions to the cast of 'The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.' Joining the regular cast and Mark Hamill are Regina Hall ('Scary Movie,' 'Girls Trip'), Sherry Cola ('Nobody Wants This,' 'Shrinking'), Arturo Castro ('Tron: Ares,' 'Matchbox'), George Lopez ('Lopez vs Lopez,' 'The Underdoggs'), and four-time Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum rapper Isis 'Ice Spice' Gaston, who also contributes an original song. Before diving into SpongeBob, Naito turned attention to a tiny mushroom village in a magical forest, home to the most famous blue characters on Earth (apologies to Pandora). Director Chris Miller returned to Annecy to present the first 20 minutes of his upcoming summer tentpole 'Smurfs,' ahead of its July 18, 2025 release. Last year, he showed early footage at MIFA. Now, with the film nearly complete, Miller spoke about the project's unique blend of CG and 2D animation. 'I'm delighted to bring the Smurfs back to the big screen with a project blending CG and 2D animation so closely,' said Miller. 'For me, animation isn't all about pixels and keyframes. It's about moving an audience and infusing every frame with the same heart, color and charm that Peyo put in his original ideas more than 60 years ago.' Production is already underway on Season 4 of the CG-animated TV series. Nele De Wilde, CCO of Peyo Company, noted how closely the studio collaborated with Paramount, eight years after Sony Pictures Animation's 'Smurfs: The Lost Village.' 'Paramount were very respectful of our input,' said De Wilde. 'Friendship, helping each other and respecting nature are timeless values at the core of the Smurfs' identity. Paramount was committed to bringing these ideas to life in a modern, adventure-packed film.' These values also spoke to Rihanna, who voices Smurfette. 'That's gangster,' said her partner A$AP Rocky to Variety earlier this year. The film's musical energy and visually rich medieval-fantasy setting, powered by Cinesite Montreal's animation, promise to get kids 'Smurfin' all day long.' The story centers on a Smurf with no name who seeks to discover his unique identity, aided by Smurfette, Hefty and other classic characters. Gags like 'Quiet,' 'Soundtrack' and 'Shark-Taming Smurf' had the Annecy audience in stitches. A standout moment introduced Razamel, Gargamel's equally inept brother, as a new villain. By the film's end, the Smurfs tumble through a multiverse portal into real-world Paris, to Grouchy's great dismay. The film will premiere in Brussels on June 28, 2025, painting the city blue ahead of its global rollout. Next up, director Derek Drymon shared a behind-the-scenes look at 'The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.' A SpongeBob veteran, Drymon returned to the franchise after co-directing 'Hotel Transylvania 4' in 2022. 'We wanted to recapture the spirit of the first season,' said Drymon. 'I'm so thankful to Paramount for backing a creator-led project. What wins the day is being a kid, and that's what we infused in this feature.' Audiences were treated to the first full act, in which SpongeBob finally grows tall enough to ride a rollercoaster but backs out at the last moment, only to be pulled into an even scarier pirate adventure with the Flying Dutchman. He then signs away his fate and plunges into the Underworld. Blending 3D animation with cutting-edge 2D, this visually dynamic installment follows in the stylistic footsteps of 'The Mitchells vs. the Machines' and 'Spider-Verse.' It will hit theaters Dec. 19, 2025. Following a brief Q&A with Miller and Drymon, moderated by Paramount SVP Emily Nordwind, audiences got one last surprise: two never-before-seen shorts. 'Order Up,' a dialogue-free SpongeBob short directed by Sean Charmatz ('Orion and the Dark'), will debut in front of 'Smurfs' in July. The slapstick comedy had been sitting in the Nickelodeon/Paramount vault for nearly a decade. The second short, 'Chrome Alone 2: Lost in New Jersey,' is a 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' tale directed by Kent Seki. With a visual style similar to Jeff Rowe's 'Mutant Mayhem,' this installment takes a comedic look at artificial intelligence and will premiere alongside the new SpongeBob film in December. Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Regina Hall, Ice Spice Join New ‘SpongeBob' Movie
That pineapple under the sea is getting pretty crowded. Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation on Tuesday unveiled new cast additions for their upcoming The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants movie, with Regina Hall, Sherry Cola, Arturo Castro, George Lopez and Ice Spice joining the ensemble. The four-time Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum-selling rapper will also contribute an original song to the film. More from The Hollywood Reporter ITV Studios Names Tim Carter Managing Director, Unscripted, U.K. Disney+ Names Angela Jain Content Chief for EMEA Amid Slate Growth Push 'The Simpsons,' Matt Groening Honored as "Icon of Animation" at Annecy They join returning cast members Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick), Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy), Mr. Lawrence (Plankton) and Mark Hamill (Flying Dutchman) in the feature directed Derek Drymon and written by Pam Brady and Matt Lieberman. The log line for the film has SpongeBob and friends journeying to the depths of the ocean to face the ghost of the Flying Dutchman. The film is set for a December release. Ramsey Naito, president of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation, made the cast reveal at a studio showcase at the Annecy international animation festival in France on Tuesday. The event included sneak peeks at upcoming Paramount and Nickelodeon features and series, including Chris Miller's Smurfs movie, PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2. Drymon presented the complete first act of The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, and Miller showed the opening 20 minutes of Smurfs, which will bow theatrically on July 18. Smurfs stars Rihanna as Smurfette — who Miller said exhibited 'a deep knowledge of Smurf lore, she knew way more than I did.' The film's voice cast includes John Goodman, James Corden, Nick Offerman, Sandra Oh, Natasha Lyonne, Amy Sedaris, Daniel Levy, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, Marshmello, Jimmy Kimmel and Kurt Russell. The event concluded with the premiere of two animated shorts. SpongeBob: Order Up, directed by Sean Charmatz will screen theatrically ahead of Smurfs this July. Chrome Alone 2: Lost in New Jersey, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles short directed by Kent Seki, will premiere alongside The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants in December. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
