Gossip Teen

Glee actress Lea Michele is taking on the beloved role of Dorothy in the upcoming animated feature Dorothy of Oz due in theaters in 2012. This version is a continuation of the original L. Frank Baum story written by the author’s grandson, Roger S. Baum. It brings Dorothy back to a Kansas that was shredded by the tornado; however the young girl soon finds herself zipped back to Oz again as it too has started to crumble. From the movie website:

In the story, Dorothy returns to Kansas to find it devastated by the tornado that had whisked her away to the magical Land of Oz. The home she had been so desperate to return to is no longer; the townspeople, with nowhere to turn, are packing up and moving out. However, before Dorothy can even begin to react to or resist this change, she is transported back to Oz by equally magical methods as her first trip. Oz is in trouble, and the people there need her help: Dorothy’s old friends – the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion – have disappeared and the land is in a state of decay. As Dorothy journeys to find her friends, she encounters a number of new companions and problems, including a man made of marshmallows who cant think for himself, a china doll princess whose bossiness is a cover for her fragility, and a tugboat with as many personalities as he has pieces. Dorothy must help this odd group band together against a wicked new villan – a Jester who thinks all of Oz should be under his own control.

The initial images of this are fantastic; with original songs and old and new characters voiced by talented actors Kelsey Grammer, (Tin Man) Martin Short, (Jester) Dan Aykroyd, (Scarecrow) Jim Belushi, (Cowardly Lion) Hugh Dancy, (Marshall Mallow) Patrick Stewart, (Tugg Boat) and Oliver Platt (Wiser the Owl.) Lea is in great company.

I always loved the original  series so I’d look forward to seeing what they do with this. I can’t wait to hear Michele give voice to Dorothy – she should be terrific.

Check out all the preview images below. Read more »

 Teen actress Dakota Fanning is following in the footsteps of many other young actresses: doing voice over work in an animated film. This film, Coraline, was directed by Henry Selick, who worked with Tim Burton on The Nightmare Before Christmas and is based on author Neil Gaiman’s work.

Coraline Jones (Dakota Fanning) is bored in her new home until she finds a secret door and discovers an alternate version of her life on the other side. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life and the people in it – only much better. But when this seemingly perfect world turns dangerous, and her other parents (including her Other Mother voiced by Teri Hatcher) try to trap her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination and bravery to escape this increasingly perilous world – and save her family.

The film looks great and Fanning is always great to have in any film. Opening February 6th, 2009. Here is a look at the trailer for the film.