Voice Cast Announced for Planes

USA Today gave an exclusive peek yesterday of Planes, the upcoming feature film from DisneyToon Studios. The article included quotes from the filmmakers along with pictures of characters from the film and the actors who will be voicing them.

Planes is set in the anthropomorphic machine world of the Cars films, but with flying machines as the main characters (and without Pixar Animation Studios at the helm). John Lasseter, the film’s executive producer, stated:

“I always felt every vehicle in the world of Cars is a character, and I love the idea of airplanes because you get off the ground and can take people places they have never seen. There’s so much potential.”

Originally planned as a direct-to-DVD product (DisneyToon Studios also makes the direct-to-DVD Tinker Bell films), the filmmakers all saw this potential, too. Director Klay Hall (Family Dog, King of the Hill, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure) said:

“I think we got into this world and really saw how epic it could be. It kind of just happened. It’s worked out best for everyone.”

In addition to actor/comedian Dane Cook, who is voicing Dusty, the film’s crop-duster hero (actor Jon Cryer was previously announced for the role, but dropped out of the project due to scheduling conflicts), the following voice cast was announced:

Anthony Edwards and Val Kilmer, having a Top Gun reunion of sorts, will voice Bravo and Echo, two F-18 jets.

Stacy Keach is the voice of veteran flight instructor Skipper (who sounds like he’s the Doc Hudson of the Planes world).

Cedric the Entertainer is the voice of Leadbottom, an old biplane from Dusty’s hometown Propwash Junction.

Teri Hatcher is the voice of Dottie, a forklift mechanic who is the voice of reason in Dusty’s life.

Brad Garrett is the voice of Chug, a fuel truck who is Dusty’s best friend on the ground.

Roger Craig Smith is the voice of Ripslinger, an egotistical racing plane and (SPOILER ALERT) most likely the film’s villain.

Gabriel Iglesias voices both Ned and Zed, the bumbling hench-”planes” of Ripslinger.

Carlos Alazraqui is the voice of El Chupacabra, the flying luchador of the Planes world and a friend to Dusty.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is the voice of Rochelle, a competitive Canadian flying racer.

John Cleese is the voice of Bulldog, a British racing veteran.

Priyanka Chopra is the voice of Ishani, an exotic racing plane from India (Priyanka also happens to be a triple threat in Bollywood–singer, actress and dancer, and now animated character).