Branagh to voice Dickens in animated film inspired by novelist’s short story
Kill Bill’s Thurman and Griffin Davis from Jojo Rabbit also set to feature
SIR Kenneth Branagh is set to lend his voice alongside Kill Bill star Uma Thurman in a new animated project.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Belfast-born actor and director will voice Dickens in The King of Kings, a faith-based feature that draws inspiration from the lives of the author and Jesus Christ.
Thurman will voice Catherine Dickens, the wife of the novelist behind the likes of Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol.
Jojo Rabbit’s Roman Griffin Davis will voice the couple’s youngest son, Walter.
The King of Kings is inspired by The Life of Our Lord, a Dickens short story published in 1934, decades after his death. It follows Dickens and Walter as they — and their cat Willa — become immersed in the story of Jesus.
South Korean animation house Mofac Animation is behind the project, which will be directed by Seong-ho “Jay” Jang of Spartacus fame.
Jang co-wrote the script with Rob Edwards, who’s known for Disney’s The Princess and the Frog.
Producer Anfernee Kim said: “It is through the Dickens family that our audience experiences the life of Jesus Christ, and Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman and Roman Griffin Davis bring all the emotion, awe, heart and gravitas to these essential characters.
“These three actors are at the core of our story, and anchor a truly impressive cast, many of whom we look forward to sharing in the near future.”
Branagh was most recently on the big screen for his latest portrayal of Agatha Christie’s Belgian detective Hercule Poirot.
He has directed and starred in three of his Poirot films. Branagh began playing Poirot in his film adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express in 2017, making him the latest in a long line of actors to play the role.
He also played the detective in the 2022 adaptation of Death on the Nile.
The latest film — A Haunting in Venice, which was released last year — saw Branagh team up with fellow Northern Ireland actor Jamie Dornan in the supernatural mystery, based on the 1969 Agatha Christie novel Hallowe’en Party.
Earlier this year, Sir David Suchet, who starred as Poirot for 25 years, said he will never watch the Belfast man play the character as he does not want to be critical.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain, Suchet discussed his stage tour in which he speaks about his time playing Poirot over 13 series and 70 episodes in the ITV drama, before he officially retired the role in 2013.
Suchet was asked if he had any criticism of Branagh’s Poirot.
He replied: “No, no. He does it in his own way and that’s fine. I don’t [critique him] I’ve never seen them.
“I deliberately don’t because in the early days when Ken started the national press rang me up because they wanted me to say critical things about it.
“So I thought the best thing to do is never watch it. No comment. I wish him well. It’s a great role.
“Everybody tries to do their best.”