Star Wars: Every Droid You Didn't Know that was Voiced by a Celebrity - Main Image

Droids have always been a source of slapstick and comedy in the Star Wars universe. While fans can’t see the person operating the droid, Lucasfilm does tend to cast some well-known faces to play the occasional bucket of bolts.

Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker have already gone down in Star Wars as the most iconic droid actors, but here are some droid characters from the series that some fans may not have known were voiced by celebrities.

Bb-8 (The Force Awakens) – Bill Hader, Ben Schwartz

Starting the list, Bb-8 was considered iconic for Disney-era Star Wars as he was the first droid to kick off the Sequel Trilogy. Though he’s unintelligible throughout the films, the sounds from Bb-8 come from comedians Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live) and Ben Schwartz (Sonic the Hedgehog...

Star Wars The Phantom Menace: Where Are They Now in 2024 on Film's 25th Anniversary? - Main Image

What happened to the cast of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace since 1999? Where are they now? In celebration of Star Wars: Phantom Menace's 25th anniversary, fans will get to rewatch the entire Skywalker Saga in theaters this May.

Where Are the Original Cast of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace in 2024?

As fans reminisce about the first chapter of the Skywalker saga, here's where the cast is, as of 2024!

Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn

Initially starring as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in 1999's Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Liam Neeson later became involved in several projects in the franchise.

Moving past being best known for his action flicks like Taken, Neeson lent his voice in Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker and Tales of the Jedi to reprise his role.

In my opinion, Robot Chicken has created some of the best and funniest Star Wars parodies ever. Last week we posted the best Robot Chicken skits featuring Gary the Stormtrooper. Adult Swim has now compiled a video featuring what they feel are the best ten Star Wars skits from the team at Robot Chicken.

Hey you Nerf Herders, Star Wars The Force Awakens is now out at cinemas so here's our Top 10 Robot Chicken: Star Wars moments. Do you agree? Think we're complete morons? Let us know in the comments below.

Matthew Senreich, Tom Sheppard and Zeb Wells will team up to write the screenplay for the hybrid live-action / stop-motion animated Rabbids feature film for Ubisoft Motion Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment. The film is based on the wacky characters from the popular Rabbids TV series and Ubisoft video games.

Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, the award-winning animation studio founded by Matthew Senreich, Seth Green, John Harvatine IV, and Eric Towner, will be a producing partner on the film, alongside Ubisoft Motion Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment

Primetime Emmy® Award winner Matthew Senreich is widely known for bringing “Robot Chicken,” “Robot Chicken: Star Wars” specials, and the upcoming “SuperMansion” to life. Zeb Wells is a Primetime Emmy®-winning writer best known for “Robot Chicken,” the “Robot Chicken DC Comics” specials, Sony Crackle’s “SuperMansion,” among popular comic book titles “Venom: Dark Origin,” “Dark Reign: Elektra” and “Avenging Spider-Man.” Tom Sheppard is a three-time...

It's been announced that Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) has been cast in a recurring role in Season 2 of the animated series Star Wars Rebels. Executive producer/supervising director Dave Filoni said, “We're thrilled to have Sarah Michelle Gellar on board for season 2. She is a true 'Star Wars Rebels' fan and her passion undoubtedly comes through in the voice recording sessions.”

Hopefully Sarah Michelle Gellar's character arc will last for many episodes, because selling the long-term emotional resonance of the title character's ongoing struggles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer was one of the key strengths of her iconic seven-year performance as Buffy Summers. And with all new Star Wars (from Star Wars Rebels onwards) said to be inter-connected in story terms, who knows what other instalments of the franchise the character could appear in?

(Of course, depending on acting availability, there's always the possibility...

Exclusive: Warner Bros has set Chris McKay to direct its sequel to The Lego Movie, the film that opened last month and has so far turned in a worldwide gross of $361 million. McKay was animation co-director on the first film that was made under the direction of Phil Lord & Chris Miller. That duo is producing, and Michelle Morgan & Jared Stern are writing a treatment for the next installment. They are still working all this out, but this will be straight sequel, even though the studio is contemplating a spinoff film that broadens the Lego empire by focusing on the character Ninjago. At the same time, McKay is also negotiating a first-look producer deal at the studio. Dan Lin & Roy Lee are also producing. Who’s McKay? The Chicago native cut his teeth mixing animation with irreverence on the small screen, winning an Emmy for his work on Cartoon Network’s Robot Chicken,...

Iggy Azalea paid tribute to cult teen classic Clueless in her recent music video for 'Fancy'.

The Australian rapper appears as Alicia Silverstone's iconic character Cher in the video, which was released online last week.

As stars continue to be inspired by the movie almost 20 years on, we take a fond look back at the cast and what they went on to do after Clueless:

Alicia Silverstone (Cher Horowitz)

Alicia Silverstone played seemingly shallow socialite Cher - famously branded "a virgin who can't drive" and "hymenally challenged" - in the high-school adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma.

Prior to Clueless, Silverstone's credits included ABC comedy-drama The Wonder Years and a number of Aerosmith videos. The film propelled her to further fame, and she went on to star in Joel Schumacher's 1997 movie Batman & Robin, crime-comedy Excess Baggage (1997) with Benicio Del Toro and Christopher Walken, and romantic drama Blast from the Past (1999) opposite Brendan Fraser.

The Geekie Awards are created for Geeks, by Geeks, with Seth Green Presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. Stan “The Man” Lee on August 18th. This is the first live broadcast geek-genre awards show supporting indie artists and creators.

The Geekie Awards was created by über geek girl, Kristen Nedopak, in order to celebrate the most talented independent creators, artists, and filmmakers in the geek genre. This awards show stands alone as one that will showcase the multitude of genres within the geek world to an international audience of industry leaders and fans who may not otherwise discover it, via a live broadcast event.

Presenters confirmed to date include: Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica), Grant Imahara (Mythbusters), Brea Grant (Dexter, Heroes), Kevin Shinick (Mad, Robot Chicken), Andrew Bowen (Rock Jocks, Mad), Winner Twins (award winning sci-fi authors), Ashley Esqueda (host of Techfoolery), Bonnie Burton (Star Wars Craft, Geek Diy), and...

It is said if you want something done, give the task to a busy person. Well, Breckin Meyer certainly fits that description. He is an actor, a comedian, a writer, producer and a drummer. The good news is he seems to have fun doing all those things, proof being, he usually has a smile on his face. Breckin Erin Meyer was born on May 7, 1974 in Minneapolis Minnesota and his star sign is Taurus. His father Christopher William Meyer is a management consultant and his mother, Dorothy Ann (nee Vial), is a travel agent and former microbiologist. They are divorced. Breckin has a older brother, Frank, and a younger brother, Adam. His brother Frank Meyer is a staffer and producer of Fresh Ink Online. Breckin has lived in California, Texas, West Virginia and New Jersey. Meyer went to elementary school with Drew Barrymore and that is where he came into contact with Barrymore's agent.

In the proud tradition of Robot Chicken: Star Wars, Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II, and Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III, comes the announcement of a new Robot Chicken target homage: the DC superheroes universe. And wait until you see the voice cast – Nathan Fillion as the Green Lantern! Neil Patrick Harris as Two-Face! Megan Fox as Lois Lane! Yowzers!

Seth Green, who will be voicing Batman, Aquaman, and Robin, and directing the one-time special, told THR

“Having been raised on DC Comics and the Super Friends vs. Legion of Doom, it’s exciting to tell a whole Robot Chicken story within this awesome universe.”

Expected to premiere in the fall, the Robot Chicken DC Comics Special will be a half hour special on Cartoon Network‘s Adult Swim. It is co-written by head writers/co-executive producers Douglas Goldstein and Tom Root along with Robot Chicken writers Green, Senreich,...

Star Wars fans all want to know the answer to one question: When can we expect to see Lucasfilm’s long-in-development live-action TV series? Well, sadly, the series, to paraphrase the iconic opening epigraph of the Star Wars movies, is “far, far away.”

Still, fans were given some hope Monday when IGN posted a video with Lucasfilm executive producer Rick McCallum at a press junket for the movie Red Tails (opening Jan. 20). In the clip, McCallum indicated that the series was, for now, being called Star Wars: Underworld — one of the bigger pieces of news pertaining to the hush-hush...

In a forthright but sure to be controversial interview with Empire, director Steven Spielberg gave some juicy quotes, defending Indy 4 and his loyalty to George Lucas, and declaring that he’s proud of introducing the phrase “nuked the fridge” to popular culture.

He gave an update on the status of the long in the works dinosaur sequel Jurassic Park 4, saying: “The screenplay is being written right now by Mark Protosevich. I’m hoping that will come out in the next couple of years.”

Moving on the subject of his other famous franchise, Indiana Jones, he said: “Whether I like the stories or not, George has broken all the stories. He is working on Indy V.”

Responding to the oft-criticised Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Spielberg addressed the big picture and also talked about specific elements of the film. This is a good approach, rather than just...

There are no two ways about it, I'm a Star Wars child. I saw the first movie way back in 1977 and like so many other children of my generation I was blown away by the two hours of boy's own space adventures that welded my seven year old eyes to the big screen. I subsequently clamored after the first dozen three-a-and-half inch figures (particularly the Stormtrooper and Tusken Raider, which were by far the coolest) and quickly developed a raging thirst for all things that had the words 'Star' and 'Wars' attached to them.

For the best part of the next quarter of a century I held my head high, proud to be known as a full blown Star Wars-o-holic, unafraid to declare my love for all things George Lucas, but then something happened that began to change the way I felt. That something was the prequels.

See also:...

Chicago – Is it wrong to say that I prefer the three “Robot Chicken” specials that spoof the “Star Wars” franchise more than the prequel trilogy? Heck, I enjoy the “Family Guy” trilogy of “Star Wars” take-offs more, so I suppose that’s not surprising. In all seriousness, these are very funny specials and the latest was recently released on Blu-ray with an abundance of special features. Don’t miss it.

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0

It’s hard to review a title like “Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III” in that it’s almost certainly not going to be your first encounter with “Rc” or even their series of Lucas-inspired specials. In other words, I can’t imagine you’re starting here. Not that you’d be disappointed if you did. This is damn funny stuff, maybe not the most consistent of the “Star Wars” specials yet produced by Seth Green’s...

Dear Mr. Lucas,

Before I begin the unhappy duty of detailing your many recent faults, George, let me try to lessen the ensuing sting a bit by saying that I not only admire you, but envy you as well. A few decades ago, you created one of the most iconic film franchises in history and have subsequently set a marketing standard that the last 30+ years of major releases have all tried, and failed, to match. You have turned a memorable version of the mythological "Hero's Journey" into a branch of the U.S. Mint. Your net worth is currently measured in the billions. If you never again put pencil to a script or sit in a director's chair, you will still be remembered for generations to come as one of the greatest media success stories ever. And those are all pretty incredible things. You are undoubtedly in the elite strata...

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away (but secretly today, July 12th 2011) the third and possibly final installment of Robot Chicken's Star Wars specials arrives in stores with the Blu-Ray / DVD release of Robot Chicken: Star Wars - Episode III!

But what about the man behind the puppets, pulling the strings?  No, not Seth Green!  What about Robot Chicken co-creator, executive producer, writer (and occasional voice) Matthew Senreich?  Ugo recently had a chance to catch up with Senreich over the release of Robot Chicken: Star Wars' third installment, and the future of the Emmy-winning series at large.

So who's coming in the new season?  What Star Wars characters might we hit next?  What will we see at San Diego Comic-Con this year?  What's next for Titan Maximum? Read on to find out!

----------

Normal 0 false false false En-us X-none X-none The concept of the trilogy...

A wok, bok-bok, Robot Chicken fans! The day is nearly upon us when the third entry in the parody from a long time ago and a galaxy far, far away drops, and Robot Chicken: Star Wars - Episode III arrives on Blu-ray and DVD.

The first hour-long special and (possibly) final installment in the saga follows the life story of Emperor Palpatine (Seth MacFarlane), weaving in and out of the Star Wars universe to tell the story of the characters and moments not covered by that George Lucas fella, as only Robot Chicken Can.

But that's not to say the big man himself isn't involved in the special features! Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on Tuesday, July 12th, but that's not all! Check out what you can expect along with the special:

Sunday in the Boardroom with George

Chicken Nuggets (sketch by sketch video...

It’s another jam-packed week of DVD and Blu-ray releases, here’s the rundown of what’s available to buy from today, July 4th 2011.

Pick Of The Week:

Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode 3 (DVD)

Millions of years from now, after Socrates, Shakespeare and the Bible are long forgotten, only two great works will remain: the sci-fi cinema epic Star Wars and Adult Swim’s stop-motion animated, cheap gag extravanganza Robot Chicken. And now, for the first time, they come together for the third time, in this all new special. That’s right, all your mot beloved Star Wars characters are going back through the comedy meat grinder. Watch Darth Vader fall into a toilet, while Emperor Palpatine rides the endless Death Star escalator! See Gary the Stormtrooper’s speederbike test-drive come to a gruesome, Ewok-splattering end! And witness the firepower of Boba Fett’s fully armed and operational T-shirt Cannon!

As I write this, a thought continues to pollute my mind; one I feel I must share with you before I continue - when is enough...enough? How do we know when something has reached its natural climax - are there signs, indications, points of closure - and what are the dangers of continuing past this point? With regards to the animated comedy, this line has become somewhat blurred over the years; a seemingly frustrating battle between fans and a show's creator / funding studio.

Matt Groening was probably the first publicised example of this - The Simpsons has spent the best part of 15 years defending its right to be here, with many fans now feeling Fox should call time on the franchise, regardless of its success. Next there were Parker and Stone, the infamous creators of the foul-mouthed, poorly animated - but remarkably successful - South Park. Much like The Simpsons,...

It's a drunken Saturday morning in Bristol. My head is tormented by a low, buzzing sensation, no doubt caused by the previous night's discotheque adventures. My mouth is reminiscent of a college party aftermath, both in texture and bile-infused sickness; and the copious levels of alcohol consumed are now making themselves known through every pore in my body (seriously, I am sweating Jack Daniel's at this point).

Yet, while the situation is indeed grim, it is inconsequential when compared to that of the Sith Lord depicted before us. Falling to his death - courtesy of his once prolific prodigy - our protagonist partakes in an American Beauty style recount, with the same music (Baba O'Riley by The Who) playing in the background (see below, but skip to 1:09):

Then, when Lord Palpatine utters the phrase "Dream Big; live big; love big...fall to your death down a giant...

We live in a dark, dark age. While not 'black-plague-oh-snap-everyone's-dead' sort of dark, it's certainly a sad time in certain aspects. On the whole, we are still trying to recover from one of the most crippling economic downfalls of all time - despite constant reassurance that all is now well; are dealing with the frequent and ever changing issues of privacy and the laws of it (super injunction anyone?); and remain obsessed with celebrity culture, concerning ourselves more with their idiotic behaviour than genuine areas of concern - such as the blood-thirsty leadership of Colonel Gaddafi, or North Korea's constant refusal to disregard any form of nuclear activity.

However, while it - and this opening paragraph - may leave you feeling a bit gloomy, there are things out there sure to put a smile back on your face. First of all, why not remind yourself of the honest and natural...

Hey kids, like Star Wars? Like action figures? Like Star Wars action figures doing ridiculous things in an animated fashion? Then you'll love Robot Chicken Star Wars: Episode 3, the trilogy finale for the comedy parody series.The good news is that this latest one is twice as long as the previous efforts, running a substantial 45 minutes, and covering events from before Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace to after Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi. Seth MacFarlane voices Emperor Palpatine, Breckin Meyer's Boba Fett and, er, Zac Efron is Anakin Skywalker. brightcove.createExperiences();  Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode 3 is out on DVD on July 4...

One of the best Star Wars spoofs in recent memory is making its way to Blu Ray and DVD this summer.

Warner Home Video announced plans this week to release the most recent chapter in the Robot Chicken: Star Wars franchise, Robot Chicken: Star Wars III. The hour long episode will hit DVD and Blu Ray on July 12, 2011, and will include these special features:

-Sunday in the Boardroom with George

-Chicken Nuggets (sketch by sketch video commentary)

-Behind-the-Scenes

-Voice Recording Featurette

-Skywalker Ranch Premiere Trip

-Star Wars Celebration V Robot Chicken Panel

-Writer’s Room Featurette

-Deleted Animatics With Video Intros

-Audio Commentaries

Personally, I'm thrilled. When it came to Star Wars spoofs, I always thought the Robot Chicken ones were vast more superior to their counterparts like Family Guy. The brilliance of Robot Chicken is that, even if a sketch didn't personally work for you, chances are you...

Hey gang! This month the highly anticipated third installment of the Robot Chicken: Star Wars Trilogy will premiere on Adult Swim. Like the first two Robot Chicken Star Wars parodies, you wont want to miss this! Judging by these photos this is going to be epically hilarious.

Here's the description and further a few images from the show:

In the hour-long special, four very different characters‹Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader, Boba Fett and Gary the Stormtrooper reveal untold stories that weave and interconnect throughout all six Star Wars films. Robot Chicken: Star wars Episode III also features Zac Efron as Anakin Skywalker, Anthony Daniels (from the original Star Wars films) as C3PO, Mike Henry (The Cleveland Show) and Donald Glover (Community), all making their first appearance in Rcsw. Also returning from the previous specials are Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian and Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks along with returning favorites Green,...

Zac Efron may have had his breakout as a "High School Musical" heartthrob, but he's been very clear in his intentions to evolve beyond those beginnings into more serious acting fare. He's taking another shot this Friday with "Charlie St. Cloud," a fantasy/drama about a young man (Efron) grieving over the death of his younger brother.

With the movie out on Friday, this is prime time for Efron to figure out what he's going to do next. He's already got a TV appearance lined up, voicing Anakin Skywalker on the next "Robot Chicken: Star Wars" special. Now Deadline reports that there are two film roles he's considering as well. First up is "The Lucky One," an adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks novel, about a soldier coming home from Iraq who sets out to find a woman in a picture he's been carrying as his good luck charm. The other is "Die In a Gunfight,...

The "Star Wars"-loving world was shocked last week by the news that Zac Efron will be lending his voice to the upcoming third volume of "Robot Chicken: Star Wars," which is set to air in December. Efron will be voicing Anakin Skywalker, the young Jedi Knight who fathers Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa. Also, he becomes this little-known warlord named Darth Vader. Here's Efron describing his role in the coming special episode of the Seth Green/Matthew Senreich-created series.

"It was a few scenes. I don't know... I'm not exactly sure... it's really Seth's, it's his sort of brainchild, so... he's at the reins," Efron said. "He's the most creative, funny dude you've ever met. You kind of just go in and surrender to what he wants you to do."

Unfortunately, Efron wouldn't reveal much in the way of details, beyond the few scenes he contributes to. We...

Seth Green and Matthew Senreich’s “Robot Chicken” is prepping for their third installment of their “Star Wars” specials with the casting of Zac Efron as Anakin and Anthony Daniels as C3PO. How will “Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III” top their other specials? Green talks about the approach they are taking with this one:

“We’re telling more of a linear story this time that covers the series from start to finish.”

Senreich explains the angle the “Robot Chicken” team will take:

“We wanted to take the Star Wars universe and see if through the eyes of our Robot Chicken: Star Wars Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader, Boba Fett and Gary the Stormtrooper. We’ll still flip around the universe but we’ll get a unique perspective from the bad guy side, from people who just want to rule the universe.”

Also lending their vocal talents for the special...

Adult Swim's Robot Chicken returns to that galaxy far, far away for a brand-new Star Wars-themed special premiering December 12 at 11:30 p.m. (Et/Pt). This third installment in the Robot Chicken: Star Wars trilogy follows the two previous specials, which resulted in multiple Emmy nominations and numerous Annie Awards for both specials and the writers Ahmed Best and Seth Green. Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III, to be directed by Chris McKay, marries the satirical sensibilities of Green and Matthew Senreich's (Stoopid Monkey Productions) Emmy-winning Robot Chicken with characters of the Star Wars universe. The specials and the Robot Chicken series, the highest-rated original program on Adult Swim, are created in conjunction with ShadowMachine Films' Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico.

Robot Chicken and Adult Swim have announced via press release they will premiere Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III Dec. 12. Zac Efron has signed on to voice Anakin Skywalker. So fingers crossed for a song-and-dance number “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You…On Lake Naboo.”

True Blood’s Sam Trammell will appear in indie crime thriller Guns, Girls and Gambling. The actor will play a sheriff working with a corrupt sheriff (Dane Cook). The partnership works because Cook has also been associated with things that suck. [Variety]

Aidan Gillen (The Wire) will play Littlefinger, manipulative adviser to King Robert...

As if there was ever any doubt, more "Star Wars" antics are incoming from the talented folks behind Cartoon Network's "Robot Chicken." Deadline reports that the special, titled "Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III," will air on December 12.

The big news however is that Zac Efron is among the ranks of newcomer voices joining the cast. The "High School Musical" heartthrob will take the role of Anakin Skywalker; other new guests include Anthony Daniels (C-3Po in all six "Star Wars" movies), Donald Glover ("Community") and Mike Henry ("The Cleveland Show"). They'll join a sizable cast of returning voices, including "Chicken" creators Seth Green and Matt Senreich, "Star Wars" stars Billy Dee Williams and Ahmed Best, and plenty more.

In a statement, Green revealed a more traditional narrative structure for the special: "We're telling more of a linear story this time that covers the series from start to finish.

Efron has also joined the voice cast of 'Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III.'

By Eric Ditzian

Zac Efron

Photo: Randall Michelson/ WireImage

Zac Efron has graduated from "High School Musical" fame to a burgeoning career as a successful Hollywood producer.

The 22-year-old star is lining up a number of projects under his Ninjas Runnin' Wild Prods. slate at Warner Bros., the latest of which is an untitled workplace comedy that would have Efron re-teaming with Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot, who were behind his 2009 hit comedy, "17 Again," and his big-screen breakout, "Hairspray," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

No plot details about the project have been released. THR reports that acquiring the comedy is one step in Efron's strategy to aggressively seek "vehicles and opportunities" for himself and his company. Other projects in development at Ninjas Runnin' include "Art of the Steal," based on a Wired magazine article...

· Your teen heartthrob and mine, Zac Efron, has signed on to voice a key character in Adult Swim's upcoming Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III, the latest in the channel's highly-rated stop motion animated series. The latest will premiere December 12 and feature Efron as Anakin Skywalker. Other actors involved include Billy Dee Williams, Ahmed Best, Rachael Leigh Cook and Adrianne Pallicki. Said co-creator Matthew Senreich about the upcoming project, "We wanted to take the Star Wars universe and see if through the eyes of our Robot Chicken: Star Wars Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader, Boba Fett and Gary the Stormtrooper." [Deadline]

Enlightened replaces Mos Def, Jack Black experiments with a book, and more TV Bites after the jump.

Adult Swim's "Robot Chicken" returns to that galaxy far, far away for a brand-new "Star Wars"-themed special premiering December 12 at 11:30 p.m. (Et/Pt). This third installment in the "Robot Chicken: Star Wars" trilogy follows the two previous specials, which resulted in multiple Emmy nominations and numerous Annie Awards for both specials and the writers Ahmed Best and Seth Green. "Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III," to be directed by Chris McKay, marries the satirical sensibilities of Green and Matthew Senreich's (Stoopid Monkey Productions) Emmy-winning "Robot Chicken" with characters of the "Star Wars" universe. The specials and the Robot Chicken series, the highest-rated original program on Adult Swim, are created in...

Filed under: TV News

The Force is strong with Zac Efron: According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 'High School Musical' dreamboat has surrendered to the Dark Side and signed on to lend his golden vocal cords to the third 'Robot Chicken' 'Star Wars' special, imaginatively titled 'Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III'.

A previous 'Chicken' alum, Efron will join 'Star Wars' staple Anthony Daniels (C3PO), 'Community' star Donald Glover and 'The Cleveland Show' regular Mike Henry in their 'Robot Chicken' debuts, while Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) and Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks) will return to reprise their roles from the movies and previous 'Rc' specials.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments...

Zac Efron will be lending his voice for a third "Star Wars" spoof from "Robot Chicken". Joined by C3PO voice talent Anthony Daniels, the "17 Again" actor has been set to voice Anakin Skywalker, who will later be known as Darth Vader, on "Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III".

This voicing gig for "Robot Chicken" won't be the first for the Troy Bolton of "High School Musical" series. He has filled in the voice of Billy Joel and Harry Potter in two previous episodes of the stop motion animated television series. He voiced Billy in the "Tell My Mom" episode in 2008, and Harry in "I Love Her" episode in 2009.

While it will be Zac's third gig on the series, Donald Glover of "Community" and Mike Henry of "The Cleveland Show" will make their first appearances on the Adult Swim series. All of them will join series regulars which include Donald Faison,...

Zac Efron is going to aid Seth Green and Matthew Senreich in spoofing "Star Wars". The actor has joined "Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III" as the voice of Anakin Skywalker who will later be known as Darth Vader.

Beside Efron, Donald Glover of "Community", Mike Henry of "The Cleveland Show" and Anthony Daniels from the original "Star Wars" films have also been added to the voice cast, the first two as Rc:sw and the latest as C3PO. The new cast join the regulars which include Donald Faison, Rachael Leigh Cook and Adrianne Palicki among others.

"We're telling more of a linear story this time that covers the series from start to finish," Green revealed the basic plot. Senreich added, "We wanted to take the Star Wars universe and see if through the eyes of our Robot Chicken: Star Wars Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader, Boba Fett and Gary the Stormtrooper.

I've got some great news for all you Robot Chicken fans out there! The Robot Chicken team is currently making a third Star Wars spoof special called Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III.

There's going to be some great voice talent jumping on board Robot Chicken for the first time as well. This talent includes Anthony Daniels who played C3PO in the original film, Zac Efron (High School Musical), Donald Glover (Community), and Mike Henry (The Cleveland ). In addition, Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) and Amed Best (Jar Jar Binks) will return from the previous Star Wars specials. 

Co-creator of the series Seth Green had this to say,

We're telling more of a linear story this time that covers the series from start to finish.

Co-Creator Matthew Senreich then gives us some details on the direction they are going with the next Star Wars special.

We wanted to take...

Adult Swim and the Robot Chicken gang have teamed for Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III, a third installment in the highly-rated series of specials, which will premiere on December 12. And this time, there is a heartthrob infusion into the geek squad, with Zac Efron on board to voice Anakin Skywalker. Other new voice cast members for Episode III include Anthony Daniels from the original Star Wars films as C3PO, Mike Henry (The Cleveland Show) and Donald Glover (Community).  Returning from the previous specials are Billy Dee Williams, Ahmed Best, co-creators Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, Breckin Meyer, Seth [...]...

Adult Swim's "Robot Chicken" is readying a third Star Wars spoof, this time with C3PO voice talent Anthony Daniels joining the cast, as well as "High School Musical" star Zac Efron.

"Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III" will riff on all aspects of George Lucas' iconic universe, following up on two previous Emmy-nominated specials.

"We're telling more of a linear story this time that covers the series from start to finish," said "Chicken" co-creator Seth Green.

In addition to Daniels and Efron, "Community" co-star Donald Glover and "The Cleveland Show" regular Mike Henry will also make their first "Robot Chicken" appearances. In addition, Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) and Amed Best (Jar Jar Binks) will return from the previous specials.

"We wanted to take the Star Wars universe and see if through the eyes of our Robot Chicken: Star Wars Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader, Boba Fett and Gary the Stormtrooper,...

After comments made by Lucasfilm this past weekend, it certainly seems that Luke, Leia, and Han will be featured in the new "Star Wars" show. Just how prominently remains to be seen. From IGN: Not many details have surfaced about the new Seth Green Star Wars comedy series that was recently announced. However, in the IGN Theater at Chicago's C2E2 convention, Lucasfilm Director of Fan Relations Steve Sansweet gave fans a nugget of information about what characters might be involved in the show. During the Q&A section of the panel, a fan said, "I would really love to see new adventures after Jedi with our favorite characters Luke, Han and Leia," to which Sansweet replied, "And you will, in the new animation." This should stoke the fires of fan speculation. Although the Seth Green/Matthew Seinrich (Robot Chicken) series is decidedly a comedic take on the Star Wars Universe,...

News today from a galaxy not so far away - The Milky Way, to be exact - should set the hearts of Star Wars fans racing with excitement or dread. Variety reports that LucasFilm Animation is hard at work on a new Star Wars animated series. The potentially troubling part? It's a comedy.

The new (and presently untitled) series will be produced by Gemini Award and Daytime Emmy winner Jennifer Hill, and Todd Grimes will sit in the director's chair. The most intriguing detail about the production team is that Seth Green and Matthew Senreich - the guys behind Robot Chicken - will have "creative involvement." Green and Senreich have demonstrated that they can make Star Wars funny with the Robot Chicken: Star Wars specials, so there may be hope for this yet...

Star Wars has always had some comedy elements - R2-D2 and C-3P0 provided regular comic...

Last year the Annie Awards caused quite a stir when Kung Fu Panda swept Wall-e [1] in every category. Of course, Wall-e still went on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, but it's interesting to note that this year, with so many great animated movies to choose from, the Annies decided to go back and honour Pixar's Up with their top prize. Needless to say, Up is now a heavy favourite at the Oscars (if it wasn't already), but how did the other categories shake down for the Annie Awards? Pete Docter also received the award for Directing, but it was The Princess and the Frog and Coraline that split many of the other categories. Personally I was just pleased to see Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach pick up the Writing award for Fantastic Mr. Fox. After the jump, you can see all of the feature film categories...

"Up" has flown away with animation's top award.

The Pixar Animation film "Up" snagged the best animated feature honor at the 37th Annual Annie Awards on Saturday, Feb. 6 in Los Angeles. The film also won a best director award for Pete Docter.

"Up" centers on an elderly man who attempts to carry out his deceased wife's dearest wish. Accompanied by a young scout and a talking dog, this unusual hero shows that it's never too late to have an adventure or follow a dream.

A replay webcast of the awards ceremony will be available at annieawards.org beginning Tuesday, Feb. 9.

The full list of Annie Awards:

Film

Best Animated Feature Production

"Up"

Animated Effects

"The Princess and the Frog" - James Mansfield

Character Animation

"The Princess and the Frog" - Eric Goldberg

Character Design

"Coraline" - Shane Prigmore

Directing

"Up" - Pete Docter

Music

"Coraline" - Bruno Coulais

Production Design...

Pixar’s Up took home the top prize for Best Feature at the 37th Annual Annie Awards, an event that honors the best in animated movies and TV.

The soaring adventure is the favorite for the “Best Animated Feature” Oscar next month, especially since the Annies have predicted the winner seven out of nine times since the category was created in 2002.

Last year DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda pulled an upset over Pixar’s Wall-e, but this year the award went to the expected recepient and the only animated film nominated for “Best Picture.” In fact, Up is only the second entirely animated movie nominated for the top Academy prize since 1991’s Beauty and the Beast. It’s also nominated for original screenplay, sound editing, and musical score.

Complete list of Annie Award winners for movies and television:

Best Animated Feature

“Up” — Pixar Animation Studios

Best Home Entertainment Production

“Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder...

"Up" from Disney/Pixar won the top honor at the 37th Annual Annie Awards. The fantastic film received the Best Animated Feature Award beating out "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," "Coraline," "Fantastic Mr. Fox," "The Princess and the Frog," and "The Secret of Kells."

(Check my interview with Annie Award-winner Pete Docter for "Up" held at Pixar Animation Studios right here)

Walt Disney Animation took home six other Annies including three for "The Princess and the Frog" and three for its television production "Prep and Landing."

Created in 1972 by veteran voice talent June Foray, the Annie Awards is considered the highest and most prestigious honor given in animation by the animation industry.

The Annie Awards is also a great predictor of the annual Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. So yes, "Up" will win that category at the Oscars!

Here's the complete list of winners (highlighted) and nominees of...

Pixar Animation Studio's "Up" was named best animated feature, and its helmer Pete Docter was honored for direction, at the 37th annual Annie Awards for animation, Saturday at UCLA's Royce Hall.

Other big winners in the Annie feature competition included Laika's "Coraline" and Disney's "The Princess and the Frog," which won three trophies each.

Nominated for five Academy Awards, "Up" is the odds-on favorite to win the Oscar for animated feature, and is only the second animated film to earn a nomination in the best picture category. It is also nominated for best screenplay, music and sound editing Oscars.

"We always look at these as films; we take them as seriously as anyone else does in this industry," Docter -- wearing an Ellie badge on his lapel -- said of the best picture nod. "The fact that our peers are looking at this film in the same way is just fantastic.

"Robot Chicken" creators/executive producers Seth Green and Matthew Senreich have made a deal with Cartoon Network's Adult Swim for a two-season, 40-episode pick-up for seasons five and six. "Robot Chicken," the highest-rated original series on Adult Swim, began airing in February 2005 and remains the top-rated original on the network. The series has been Emmy-nominated as Outstanding Animated Program for the last two years; Green was nominated for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance and the series has won multiple Emmys in Animation. "Robot Chicken" produced two hit "Robot Chicken: Star Wars" specials, and "Robot Chicken" DVDs consistently rank among the industry's top TV on DVD releases during the week they are released. In addition,...

The International Animated Film Society has announced the 2009 Annie Award nominations! "Up" and "Coraline" led the pack in the film categories.

Award recipients will claim their trophies at the 37th Annual Annie Awards scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2010 at UCLA's Royce Hall in Los Angeles, California.

Here's the list of nominees of the 37th Annual Annie Awards:

Production Categories

Best Animated Feature

* Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs . Sony Pictures Animation

* Coraline . Laika

* Fantastic Mr. Fox . 20th Century Fox

* The Princess and the Frog . Walt Disney Animation Studios

* The Secret of Kells . Cartoon Saloon

* Up . Pixar Animation Studios

Best Home Entertainment Production

* Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas . Universal Animation Studios

* Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder . The Curiosity Company in association with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

* Green Latern: First Flight . Warner Bros. Animation

* Open Season 2 . Sony Pictures Animation

* SpongeBob vs. The Big One . Nickelodeon

Best Animated Short Subject...

The nominees for the 2010 Annie Awards were also announced today and Focus Features' Coraline topped the list of feature nominees with 10 with Pixar's Up following with 9 and Disney's Princess and the Frog scoring 8. All three films were included in the running for Best Animated feature along with Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, The Secret of Kells and Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Last year the Annie Awards came under some scrutiny as Kung Fu Panda blanked the soon-to-be Oscar winner Wall-e. The reason for the uproar being DreamWorks was one of the org's top sponsors (which they still are). This year Monsters vs. Aliens is the only DreamWorks Animated feature making any noise (4 nominations), but it looks like Sony Pictures Animation has bumped up their contributions to become a "Gold Sponsor". Will there again be uproar if Pixar's Up doesn't walk away with the top prizes or Disney's The Princess and the Frog.

Robot Chicken Season 2 hits shelves on 28th September 2009. I was sent a copy myself a week or so ago and finally got around to watching it this past weekend – I’ve since watched it every day this week! Check out the official press release below:

Robot Chicken is back and this time it’s personal! Season 2 of the toy murderin’, attention-span shatterin’ TV series comes to DVD on the 28th September 2009.

A special edition box-set containing seasons 1, 2 and the never-seen-before season 3 will also be available on 28th September.

Created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, Robot Chicken Season 2 is a no-holds-barred assault on popular culture featuring celebrity abuse and doll-on-doll violence. Utilising stop-motion animation Robot Chicken Season 2 is 20 fifteen minute episodes of fastly-paced sketches. This series no celebrity is safe from the Robot Chicken treatment.

Robot Chicken Seasons 1, 2 & 3 feature an impressive list of vocal talent from creator Seth Green and...