Jeremy Renner, Wanda Sykes, Keke Palmer and Jennifer Lopez are joining the voice cast of 20th Century Fox’s Ice Age: Continental Drift, along with Aziz Ansari and hip hop star Drake.
Returning are Ice Age franchise stars Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Seann William Scott and Josh Peck.
The cast was revealed Tuesday during a meeting on the Fox lot with potential promotional partners, licensees and retail partners. The presentation was led by Fox Filmed Entertainment co-chair Tom Rothman and Fox Animation Studios president Vanessa Morrison. Romano and Queen Latifah took participants through the story Continental Drift.
The first three Ice Age films have grossed nearly $2 billion at the worldwide box office, putting Fox and partner Blue Sky Studios squarely in the animation game.
Fox and Blue Sky’s winning streak is continuing with 3D toon Rio, which has grossed nearly $300 million in less than three weeks.
Ice Age is becoming a year-round brand for Fox. A Christmas television special is being planned, along with a mobile game and online game.
In Continental Drift — which hits theaters on July 13, 2012 — Renner will portray Gutt, a self-styled master of the high seas. Lopez will play Shira, a sabre toothed who melts the heart of Diego, also a sabre toothed tiger.
Leary has recommitted to voice the role of Diego, while Romano returns as Manny and Queen Latifah as Ellie.
