I might be biased, but the ’80s really had to be the best decade for cartoons. How can you beat My Little Pony, He-Man, the Care Bears or, best of all, the Smurfs? Execs at Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation must agree, because they’re bringing our little blue friends to the big screen in a live action/animated version (a similar treatment as Alvin and the Chipmunks). Though the details are still being worked out, I’ve got a few casting suggestions for who should voice some choice Smurf Village inhabitants:
Papa Smurf = Alec Baldwin. As I re-watched some old Smurfs clips on YouTube, I couldn’t help but notice that the Smurf patriarch has a voice that strikes both wise and whimsical notes. Does that remind anyone else of 30 Rock‘s "wise" but whimsical boss Jack Donaghy? Or is it just me?
Smurfette = This one’s obvious, but the flirty she-Smurf would be best served in the capable hands of Jennifer Tilly — a toned down Jennifer Tilly. This is a kids movie.
Gargamel = I’m assuming this character will be played by a real person, so the proper voice and a passing physical likeness are in order. Ricky Gervais is my choice. They have a similar look (which could be punched up with the right makeup) and he would be able to reproduce Gargamel’s garbled accent.
What do you think PopWatchers? Do you have any casting suggestions for your favorite Smurf?
I just wanted to agree that the 80′s rocked for cartoons and toy tie in ads made to look like cartoons. The Thundercats and Robotech (the Macross saga anyway), Transformers, Gi Joe, M.A.S.K, the Beverly Hills teens, even GEM and She-ra were fun to watch after school.
Saturday mornings brought us Galaxy High (my favorite teen drama to this day), Saturday Supercade, the Pole Position series, and Nickelodeon provided us with Danger Mouse (Speaking of characters that should be voiced by Ricky Gervais, where the heck is the DM remake? Gervais would make the perfect Penfold).
I won’t watch the smurfs, but will soon have a daughter, which means in the next few years I’m destined to watch the straight to dvd sequel.
nah not alec baldwin. i say papa smurf should be voiced by morgan freeman!
Papa Smurf: Samuel L. Jackson
Smurfette: Amy Poehler
Gargamel: Alan Rickman
Yes, Tilly would be a good Smurfette — but I also suggst Kristin Chenoweth (Wicked, West Wing, Pushing Daisies) – think she would be great! And yes, DEF Alan Rickman!!
As much as I love the smurfs (I still have some of the figurines I collected as a child) I really don’t want to see this made into a crappy, fart joke filled movie. The movie producers have already ruined Scooby Doo, He-Man, Garfield, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and Underdog. However, if they decide to go through with it, keep it animated. Please don’t add any live action to it.
Having said that, I think Hugh Laurie would be perfect to voice Grumpy Smurf.
I think Paul Giamatti for Gargamel.
EP Sato, I love you!!! You remember Beverly Hill Teens. Whenever I used to mentioned that cartoon to people, they tell me it never existed. (Although, now you can catch it on YouTube, y’all.) I used to watch it every afternoon when I got out of school at the house of the lady who lived across the street from my grandma.
I hated when it disappeared!! I still remember the stupid theme song 20 years later.
This could be cool or really bad. Why dont they just make a new cartoon? Jennifer Tily as Smurfette. That is a good choice but she would have to tone it down. Unless they wanted to make her a slut. LOL Come on one woman with a hundred guys? She had it made. hahaha.
Ep Sato – your mention of Beverly Hills Teens took me down memory lane! i always wanted to be Bianca (minus the chip on her shoulder).
as for the smurfs…i always pictured danny devito as gargamel and kristen chenowith as smurfette would be delightful (good eye, kim in kentucky!).
PAPA SMURF: Gene Hackman
SMURFETTE: … For some reason, I can see Jennifer Aniston doing a memorable job.
GARGAMEL: Steve Buscemi
TAILOR SMURF: Mario Cantone
BRAINY SMURF: Christopher “McLOVIN!!” Mintz-Plasse
As a kid, I was totally addicted to the Smurfs (why? Um, I already said I was a kid).
I’d probably go and see the movie (in disguise. just kidding).
Rupert Everett as Vanity Smurf. C’mon.
I grew up in the 80′s, and I hated the Smurfs. I mean I REALLY hated them. Just looking at them made me want to puke. Only way I’d see a Smurfs movie would be if lots of Smurfs carnage was promised…
Now that Auselio is working for EW, why isn’t he doing this Pop Watch? I thought he was the one with the huge Smurf fixation.
Smurfette, a single girl among a colony of men and what about the tom boy? I never quite understood that, maybe that will be the plot.