Steven Yeun and Zachary Levi Join the Cast of Nativity Film 'The Star'
"Chuck" star Zachary Levi and "The Walking Dead" alumni Steven Yeun will both appear in the upcoming Sony Picture Animation film "The Star." The animated Nativity film, which has a star-studded cast, is slated for a late 2017 release.
Nerd HQ has recently revealed that Zachary Levi ("Heroes Reborn," "Tangled") has been cast as Joseph in "The Star." The animated film is a "retelling of the Nativity Story centered on the animals." According to the official Sony Pictures Animation website, "The Star" tells the tale of "a small but brave donkey named Bo [who] yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams.
On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a loveable sheep who has lost her flock and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become accidental heroes in the greatest story ever told - the first Christmas."
The Wrap has also announced that Steven Yeun ("Drunk History") will voice Bo the Donkey, "The Star's" protagonist. Timothy Reckart ("Token Hunchback," "Head Over Heels") will direct the animated movie. DeVon Franklin ("The Karate Kid," "Heaven Is for Real") and Lisa Henson and Brian Henson from The Jim Henson Company are executive producers while Jenni Magee-Cook ("The Emperor's New Groove," "Brother Bear," "Mulan") will produce "The Star."
The cast also includes singer and actress Kelly Clarkson as Leah the horse and Aidy Bryant as Ruth the sheep. Comedian Keegan-Michael Key will voice Dave the dove, and actress-singer Kristin Chenoweth will provide the voice for Mouse.
The upcoming animated Nativity film is written by Carlos Kotkin ("Rio 2," "Open Season: Scared Silly") while Simon Moore ("Dinotopia," "Snow Queen," "The 10th Kingdom") shares story credit. Based on the listing on the Sony Pictures Animation page, "The Star" is slated for a November 10, 2017 release date.