Dane Cook will lend his voice to Dusty, the lead character in Disney’s upcoming movie “Planes,” a spin-off of its “Cars” film franchise, the studio announced on Thursday.
Cook replaces Jon Cryer, who had been attached to the project but bowed out. Dusty dreams of competing as an air racer but has a crippling fear of heights.
“Dane Cook brings unmatched charisma and brilliant comedic timing and instincts to the character,” Klay Hall, the film’s director, said in a statement. “He gives Dusty a great edge.”
Hall, who has directed both “The Simpsons” and “King of the Hill,” is a Disneytoon Studios veteran. Pixar/Disney Animation chief creative officer John Lasseter is producing the film, which Disney initially intended to release direct to video.
It will now release the 3D animated comedy in theaters Aug. 9.
Cook, the once ubiquitous stand-up comedian, has appeared in films such as “Dan in Real Life” and “My Best Friend’s Girl.” He recently starred in a few episodes of “Next Caller” for NBC, but the network cancelled the show before it aired.
