Katherine Heigl, Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Stephen Lang and Jeff Dunham are among the voice talent lined up for the new animated feature The Nut Job, directed by Peter Lepeniotis. Co-produced by Toronto’s ToonBox Entertainment and Korean house Redrover Co., the film is based on Lepeniotis’ 2005 comedy short Surly Squirrel.
The Nut Job is ToonBox’s first feature film with Korean partner Redrover, in association with Gulfstream Pictures, which is handling U.S. sales. Fully financed by Redrover and its partners, the film is in production with plans for a 2013 release.
Thom Chapman and Graham Moloy produce. Daniel Woo, Hong Kim, Mike Karz, and Tom Yoon executive produce, in association with Gulfstream, headed by Karz and Bill Bindley.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with the cast that’s being assembled for our first feature,” said Chapman, ToonBox vice president. “They have brought the film to a whole new level. Each voice is perfect for their respective roles, and they truly make the characters come alive.”
Written by Lorne Cameron (Brother Bear, Over the Hedge), The Nut Job is an action-packed comedy grounded about a mischievous squirrel, and his rat friend Buddy, who plan a nut store heist of outrageous proportions and unwittingly find themselves embroiled in a complicated and hilarious adventure.
Lepeniotis has worked with Pixar Animation Studios and Industrial Light & Magic and as an animator on Fantasia 2000 and Toy Story 2. His short Surly Squirrel was awarded SIGGRAPH 2005 People’s Choice Award for Best Animated Film, Palm Spring’s 2005 Audience Best Animation Award and Ottawa’s Animation Festival NFB Audience Award for Best Animation. His first project with ToonBox was the 3-D animated TV series Bolt’s & Blip.
For more info, visit www.toonboxent.com.
