Edward Norton, Bella Thorne and Jim Gaffigan have joined Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman in the animated feature, “The Guardian Brothers,” The Weinstein Company announced Tuesday.
The movie also stars Mel Brooks, Mike Birbiglia and Randall Park. Zendaya was previously attached to the project.
“The Guardian Brothers” is about a Chinese family on the verge of losing their family business, a wonton soup shop. When the family’s grandmother passes away, the restaurant is left in the hands of Raindrop (Thorne) and her mother (Kidman.) But millions of miles away, The Guardians have been looking over humans for centuries.
Gary Wang directed the animated feature produced by Zhou Yu and Light Chaser Animation Studios.
“The Guardian Brothers” was initially distributed in China by Alibaba Pictures on Jan. 1, 2016 under the title “The Little Door Gods.” Wang also wrote the screenplay, with Zhou Yu and Light Chaser Animation Studios producing. TWC the acquired worldwide rights, with the exception of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau, for the film.
“Animation is unique in that, the lessons and values that underline the stories transcend culture and language in truly universal ways,” said TWC co-chairman Harvey Weinstein in a statement. “We’re thrilled to have such an incredibly talented cast of actors bring this story of acceptance and adapting to change to kids and families all over the world.”
Wang added, “Harvey and the TWC team have put together a cast that is more than amazing. It’s thrilling and surreal to see the characters come alive again, changed and yet the same. We hope the audience around the world would enjoy the movie.”