Hank Azaria Voicing Gargamel In "Smurfs"

Hank Azaria is set to voice the evil sorcerer Gargamel in "The Smurfs" film adaptation for Sony Pictures.

According to EW: This Smurfs movie is coming together quickly — and with some top-notch voice talent to boot. Hank Azaria — best known for the numerous hilarious characters he voices on The Simpsons, like Moe the bartender and Apu the Kwik-E-Mart owner, will lend his voice to the character of Gargamel, the evil sorcerer and arch-nemesis of the Smurfs.

Furthermore, pop star Katy Perry will voice Smurfette, while George Lopez and Alan Cumming will play two of the other little blue guys.

The film, directed by Raja Gosnell (Beverly Hills Chihuahua), centers on a happy expectant couple’s lives being turned upside-down upon meeting these blue creatures.

Jayma Mays, who plays guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury on Glee, will play the pregnant wife to Neil Patrick Harris’ character.

I have loved “The Smurfs” ever since I was a kid, so I’m hoping that this adaptation is a good one. Neil Patrick Harris is hilarious, and adding the voice talents of Azaria and Perry will make the Smurfs sound even better. Azaria has shown on “The Simpsons” that he is a master of voicing characters, and Perry is a singer, so I’m sure she will be comfortable. I think she has just the right amount of spunk to play Smurfette.

The movie will take place in New York City’s Central Park and is set to begin production next month.

Jonathan Winters Is Papa Smurf?

84-year-old acting veteran Jonathan Winters is tipped to voice Papa Smurf in the upcoming live-action/CGI "Smurfs" movie.

According to UGO: Our well-placed source--we'll call him Deep Mushroom--has the word on who has been cast to voice Papa Smurf. That man is Jonathan Winters. The 84-year-old Winters hasn't been much in the public eye lately, but those who know their comedy history know he is a legend.

Winters has appeared on Jonny Carson, “Mork and Mindy” and also in the satitical comedies of the 1960s “It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World” and “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming!” Also, Winters voiced various characters on the original 1981 "Smurfs" show.

The information comes soon after a casting call sheet hit Spoiler TV revealing a little bit about the plot. Specifically, the Smurfs end up in our human world, where a first-time expectant mother with an overworked husband finds her house overrun by the miniature blue creatures.

Either way, this bit of news is something promising for the film. Chances are it will be a run-of-the-mill, family-friendly, no nonsense adaptation, but the addition of Winters brings some class to the project. Maybe the presence of such a veteran will elevate the status of everyone else they bring on board.

Also, the Smurfs actually look pretty good based on the picture that was leaked a couple weeks ago. I hope this adaptation will turn out better than I anticipate, because “The Smurfs” were such a memorable cartoon for me, and seeing them on the big screen would be awesome.

“The Smurfs” will be released July 29, 2011.