Eddie Redmayne to Lend Voice to Upcoming THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE Film

Eddie Redmayne, who recently picked up an Academy Award After for Best Actor in a Leading Role for THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, will lend his voice to an upcoming animated film based on the popular Thomas the Tank Engine U.K. children's TV series, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The straight-to-DVD film will be titled Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure.

Said the actor in a statement, "I grew up loving to watch Thomas and his pals getting caught up in the unexpected and mischievous adventure. I jumped at the opportunity to get involved, and what fun it was." He adds, "I have never voiced an animated character before, and I had a complete blast."

Redmayne will voice a train named Ryan in the film, which is set to be released on DVD and VOD in September. John Hurt and Jamie Campbell Bower will also lend their voices on the project.

Redmayne won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING. The actor is noted for his performances in My Week with Marilyn, LES MISERABLES and The Theory of Everything, the last of which received critical praise was awarded with the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama, the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role (SAG), and the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

The actor won a Tony Awrd for his performance in Red. His resume also includes the West End's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? He will soon star as transgender pioneer Einar Wegener, later known as Lili Elbe, in the new film THE DANISH GIRL.

Photo: Richard Kendall/BAFTA