Walt Disney Animation Studios’ newest film, Strange World has rounded out its voice cast, joining previously announced Jake Gyllenhaal.
Dennis Quaid (The Rookie), Lucy Liu (Kung Fu Panda), Gabrielle Union (Cheaper by the Dozen) and Jaboukie Young-White are all set to voice in key roles.
Gyllenhaal (The Guilty, Spider-Man: Far from Home), who lends his voice to Searcher Clade, the son of a steadfast explorer. The original action-adventure journeys deep into an uncharted and treacherous land where fantastical creatures await the legendary Clades, a family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest—and by far— most crucial mission.
Jaeger Clade, is Searcher’s grandfather is voiced by Quaid. Young-White voices the grandson, Ethan. Union voices Meridian, who is married to son Searcher, played as already announced by Jake Gyllenhaal. Liu is Callisto Mal, head of Avalonea, the magical setting to the film.
Inspired by the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Jules Verne, the throwback adventure tale will welcome trusty companions and bizarre new creations, featuring non-speaking characters like the family’s three-legged dog, Legend, and the gelatinous blue blob , Splay, a strange critter from the strange new world explored.
The full voice cast was announced at a Walt Disney Animation Studios showcase at France’s Annecy Animation Festival, which began with the award of an honorary Annecy Cristal to Jennifer Lee, WDAS chief creature officer.
Walt Disney screens three sequences of Strange World. In the first, Ethan flirts with heartthrob Diazo, while friends from school and then — much to the teen boys’ embarrassment — Ethan dad Searcher offer warm words of encouragement.
The second sequence unveil at Annecy was an action scene as the whole family explores a cavern from a vessel that resembles a lime green submarine. They are soon attacked by fuschia creatures that look like origami stingrays. The attack ends with the family separated, Searcher and his dog stranded in a strange new world while Ethan and mom stay on the ship.
In sequence three, Searcher and the dog explore their new surroundings, the phosphorescent landscape looking like a coral refer painted bright pink. Meeting Splat, they quickly get attacked by a Cthulhu-looking beast, only to be rescued by a bearded old hunter who takes off his hood. “Dad?!!” Searcher exclaims.
The film is directed by Don Hall (Oscar®-winning Big Hero 6, Raya and the Last Dragon) and co-director/writer Qui Nguyen (co-writer Raya and the Last Dragon), and produced by Roy Conli (Oscar®-winning Big Hero 6, Tangled). Strange World hits U.S. theaters on on November 23, 2022.
