“Walking Dead” star Steven Yeun is going for something much more wholesome than zombie smashing: the animated nativity film “The Star.”
In the film, which had its cast unveiled by Sony Pictures Animation Wednesday, Yeun plays Bo, a donkey who wants to break free of his monotonous life at the village mill. He gets his wish as he sets off on a ques and meets several colorful characters. These include Ruth (Aidy Bryant), a sheep who lost her flock, and Dave (Keegan-Michael Key), a dove with dreams just as big as Bo’s. Together with several other animals including three wisecracking camels (Tyler Perry, Tracy Morgan, and Oprah Winfrey), they decide to follow a bright star in the sky that turns out to be the Star of Bethlehem from the Bible.
Rounding out the cast playing the animals are Kelly Clarkson, Kristin Chenoweth, Anthony Anderson, Gabriel Iglesias, Ving Rhames, Delilah Rene, and Kris Kristofferson. The film also has Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi as the infant Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph, with Christopher Plummer as King Herod.
“The Star is directed by Timothy Reckart, who received an Oscar nomination for his animated short “Head Over Heels” in 2013. DeVon Franklin (“Miracles From Heaven”), and Lisa
Henson & Brian Henson (The Jim Henson Company) are executive producers, with Jenni Magee Cook also producing. The film is written by Carlos Kotkin (“Rio 2), with Simon Moore sharing story credit.
“The Star” is slated for a Nov. 10 release.