Mark Hamill‘s latest role is in the upcoming animated feature The Wild Robot, and, according to the actor, the film has more in common with Star Wars than just its science fiction setting. Based on the best-selling book by Peter Brown, The Wild Robot follows Roz the robot (Lupita Nyong’o) as they attempt to survive in the wilderness. After being shipwrecked on an island, Roz joins the company of some animal companions and adopts a young gosling (no association with Ryan), teaching it to fly before its species migrates. The book is a beloved classic asking thought-provoking questions about parenthood and what it means to be human, and Mark Hamill has given the animated adaptation some big praise, comparing it to the sci-fi juggernaut Star Wars.
Appearing at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 (per The Hollywood Reporter), Hamill and the cast of The Wild Robot discussed working on the upcoming movie, directed by Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch). Hamill revealed he has been a long-time fan of the book, and knew that the animated film had massive potential. Hamill said:
“I thought, ‘If they could capture just a small percentage of the effect of this book.’ And I have to tell you, they did a fantastic job.”
The Wild Robot (2024)
- Release Date
- September 20, 2024
Hamill then stunned the crowd by comparing The Wild Robot to his most famous franchise, Star Wars. Ignoring the backlash leveled at the franchise’s modern installments, the original Star Wars trilogy will always hold up as one of the greatest sci-fi movie sagas of all-time. The actor said that The Wild Robot is hard to describe, explaining:
“You just have to see it. It reminds me of back in the day when I was trying to describe Star Wars to people who hadn’t seen it. It’s sumptuous. It’s emotional. It works on so many levels. The kids will love it. The whole family will love it.”
The Wild Robot Features Limited Dialogue
Through built-in translation software, Roz is able to understand the surrounding animals. It’s a good thing too, because the animals on the luscious island are voiced by some bona-fide A-list talent. Alongside Hamill, the island’s creatures feature the voices of Pedro Pascal, Catherine O’Hara, Bill Nighy, Kit Connor, Ving Rhames, and Matt Berry. Despite the talent involved with the project, director Chris Sanders revealed that the film actually features comparatively less dialogue than most animated movies. Speaking to Backstage, the director explained this choice, saying:
“It means that the dialogue we do have is very critical and needs to be very effective.”
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Footage of The Wild Robot was first revealed at the Annecy Animation Festival earlier this year. General audiences now have their first glimpse at DreamWorks’ new movie, thanks to a stunning first trailer. With stunningly colorful, vibrant animation, The Wild Robot has already cemented itself as one of the most beautiful animated movies in recent years, and it’s still over a month away from release.
The Wild Robot
releases in theaters on September 27, 2024. Check out the new trailer below: