Entertainment Weekly reports that DreamWorks has signed Robert Downey Jr to voice Mr. Peabody – the genius dog that appeared with Sherman during the Rocky & Bullwinkle Show.
The cartoons were created in the late 1950s and ’60s, but remained popular for decades, though they may have fallen off the radar for those under 30. The new animated feature, planned for 2014, aims to bring the duo back to the pop culture mainstream. “Certainly for Boomers, they’re in the sweet spot of our childhood animation memories, but beyond there it gets a little bit, well, not quite as familiar,” says director Rob Minkoff (The Lion King).
A script has been written by Jeffrey Ventimilia and Joshua Sternin who have also written for “The Simpsons”, “That ’70s Show” and the recent Yogi Bear movie.
Producers are working toward a 2014 release. In 3D.
Here’s a video of the old Mr. Peabody & Sherman show.
Man these were just the BEST when I was a kid. Hope Downey does it justice.
Downey has the perfect voice and inflections for it … but Rob’s right, we will have high expectations!