Another day and another Jessica Chastain film. Today, the actress can cross animation off her to-do list. Chastain has joined the cast of Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, alongside Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston and comedian Martin Short.
Chastain will voice a new character in the series, named Gia the jaguar while Cranston will play a Vitaly the Siberian tiger and Short will voice a sea lion named Stefano. The plot for the film, which is being directed by Eric Darnell and Conrad Vernon, is as follows:
“Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo and Melman the Giraffe are still fighting to get home to their beloved Big Apple, and of course, King Julien, Maurice and the Penguins are all along for the comedic adventure. Their journey takes them through Europe, where they find the perfect cover: a traveling circus, which they reinvent — Madagascar-style.”
Cranston and Short are great additions to the film, both having very distinctive voices, which are perfect for animation. That being said, Chastain is the real draw for me. She keeps joining more and more films and it’s fantastic to see such a talented actor who actually wants to work and keep expanding her filmography.
“The characters are like the three components of the circus’ attitude,” explains Eric Darnell (Madagascar), who directed the movie with Conrad Vernon (Monsters vs. Aliens). “Vitaly is this very conservative tough guy who doesn’t like any change or any outsiders coming into his world. Stefano is this hilarious comic character — he’s always bubbling with excitement and enthusiasm and is up for anything. And Gia is a little more thoughtful, and she’s beautiful. Alex can’t help but be swayed by her.” Adds Vernon: “Gia acts as a moral compass for the circus. She protects [her friends] but also opens them up to new experiences.”
It was also revealed that “Vitaly is Russian, while Stefano and Gia are Italian” and that “Chastain and Short worked with an Italian coach to ensure their accents sounded authentic.”
Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted stars Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jessica Chastain, Bryan Cranston, Martin Short and Frances McDormand and will be in cinemas on June 8th, 2012.