Step aside, Bill Murray. There's a new Garfield about to impose himself on the world and it involves another casting decision that was probably predicted 5 or so years ago via a cynical joke tweet. Jim Davis probably didn't have Chris Pratt in mind when he created that rotund feline decades ago, but to be fair, he also likely didn't predict his character would get 2 full movies starring Jennifer Love Hewitt and that guy from Road Trip.
Garfield, the cat who hates Mondays, loves lasagna, and just walks on 2 legs like that's a regular thing, is getting a new animated movie from Sony Pictures with a surprisingly impressive crew behind it. But the real headline comes from the new voice of the apathetic kitty, none other than the top of every cartoon film's checklist, Pratt. Apparently becoming the new voice of Mario wasn't enough, and now that he's got the scent, he's gobbling up new roles like a particular Italian casserole.
The currently unnamed movie (here's some wild speculation: call it Garfield) will feature a script written by Finding Nemo's David Reynolds. Reynolds' work has earned him an Oscar nomination in the past, so that's definitely one point in the film's favor. Aside from him, the project will feature Mark Dindal in the metaphorical director's chair. Dindal not only directed several popular films like Chicken Little and Cat's Don't Dance, but he also led the special effects for classic Disney movies like The Little Mermaid and The Rescuers Down Under. Notably, Reynolds and Dindal actually worked together on Disney's favorite thing to ignore, The Emperor's New Groove, with Dindal directing and Reynolds penning the screenplay.
Davis originally debuted the first Garfield comic in 1978 (though some may debate on when the character himself actually originated). The cat's gluttonous and lethargic ways apparently resonated with audiences enough to steadily turn the humble little 3-panel offerings into the most widely syndicated comic strip in the world. A long history of adaptations followed, with the late Lorenzo Music voicing the character in all of his official animated specials and shows. (Music is also the guy from those "scoop scoop, yum yum" Ruggles ice cream radio ads. Fun fact.)
Eventually, 2 live-action movies were created, bringing in the always hilarious Bill Murray, who famously only accepted the role because he thought it was written by The Big Lebowski director Joel Coen. It turned out that "Joel Cohen" was the actual writer, but Murray had already gotten through much of the production when he found that out. But he ended up doing yet another Garfield movie after that before finishing, even going on to openly express his regret while appearing as himself in the 2009 film Zombieland.
So while the world may be experiencing Pratt fatigue, at least audiences can rest easy knowing 2 of the minds behind The Emperor's New Groove are lending their talents to this new take on Garfield. Who knows? Maybe this will become an under-appreciated classic just like that one. (Hey, everybody needs to be an optimist sometimes.)
Source: The Hollywood Reporter