UGO just recently got the first look at the new live action/CGI Smurfs movie that’s in development, and today they’ve used their insane Smurf-hunting skills to find out who will provide the voice for Papa Smurf. It will be none other than Jonathan Winters.
Most of you are probably scratching your head over that (or are confused because you didn’t know he was still alive), but the 84-year old actor seems to be the perfect choice for the character. If you’ve never seen his work in one of the greatest ensemble comedies of all time, It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World, get on that ASAP. He also used to be a regular on Carson and appeared on Mork and Mindy, and really is considered a legend in the comedy world.
He’s got a thoughtful, methodical voice that really will be perfect for the role, and it helps that he’s really a funny motherfucker… although from what I remember from The Smurfs (not much, admittedly) Papa Smurf was more of a straight man.
Very interesting casting choice for the film, that’s for sure. More as we hear it!
7 comments
Suddenly, I might be seeing The Smurfs movie. Just because this story corresponds to my recent random curiosity about how he's doing.
aww..goddamnit. This sucks-not because Winters is a terrible choice. Far from it. Odds are though he's going to die and this will be his last role. And dont say it couldnt happen…Orson Wells,anyone?
Wow. Okay, vount me in the group of people who thought he was dead. Good to see he's still around though.
A live action Smurfs? Why have it live action if the characters are all CGI? Sure Gargamel can be human, but this just doesn't make any sense. And that getting past the very concept of doing a Smurf movie at all.
So this means that that all CGI Smurfs movie story from a year ago or so was fake?
It's so sad to see the comic genius of old, and realizing we're stuck with the "comic" uhggghhh okay, I can't use the word "genius" to describe most comics today, whose definition of funny is just cursing for an hour straight. And I'm a guy who can handle an hour of cursing…but can you put some intelligence and wit in there?
Jay Leno wonders why his rating are down? Get some really funny guys and gals on there, and make your show funny, and he could have stayed where he was.
Even more than Winters being funny, this clip is another reminder of what a class act Johnny Carson was. He is missed.
They covered him on the recent (?) "Make 'em Laugh" series. Hopefully this might mean the start of a whole bunch of new voice work for him. He still seemed to have a lot of energy.
The "Winters service station demolition sequence" from Mad Mad World is required viewing for kids of all ages. That shit is 100% epic.
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