Chenoweth, Tucci, Etc. Set for Animated Film Space Chimps

According to The Hollywood Reporter, one of Tony Award-winner Kristin Chenoweth's upcoming roles will be of an unearthly variety.

Chenoweth (The Apple Tree, Wicked, Running with Scissors, "The West Wing") will voice the role of a "helpful alien" in the CG-animinated feature comedy Space Chimps, which will also feature Jeff Daniels (Blackbird), Stanley Tucci (Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune), "Saturday Night Live" stars Andy Samberg and Kenan Thompson, Patrick Warburton and Cheryl Hines.  It will be released next year.

According to the article, "Samberg will play Ham III, the ne'er-do-well grandson of the first chimp astronaut sent into space.  Seeking to capitalize on the Ham family name, a senator (Tucci) recruits Ham III to travel through a black hole to a planet where he and his simian colleagues (Hines, Warburton) help rid the aliens of an evil leader (Daniels)."

Written and directed by Kirk DeMicco (Racing Stripes), the film will be produced by Barry Sonnenfeld, who also serves as a creative consultant, and Vanguard CEO John Williams, in association with Odyssey Entertainment.  It will feature a score by the Eurythmics' Dave Stewart, with additional music and sound design composed by Blue Man Group.

Photo of Kristin Chenoweth by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.