Jan 18, 2005 - Academy Award(R)-winner Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, John Cleese, Steve Buscemi, Cedric The Entertainer, Reba McEntire, Kathy Bates, Thomas Haden Church and Andre Benjamin (Andre 3000) have signed on to the voice cast of the live-action/photo real CG animated movie, "Charlotte's Web," based on the beloved novel by E.B. White.
Gary Winick ("13 Going on 30") will direct the film with Jordan Kerner and his Kerner Entertainment Banner producing.
Susannah Grant and Karey Kirkpatrick wrote the screenplay. This version of "Charlotte's Web" will be a co-production between Paramount Pictures, Walden Media and Nickelodeon Movies.
Roberts will voice the character of Charlotte A Cavatica, the spider who does everything in her power (including typing incredible messages in her web) to save Wilbur the pig from being slaughtered.
Oprah Winfrey will lend her voice to "Charlotte's Web" as Gussy the goose. John Cleese will play Samuel the sheep, Steve Buscemi will be the voice of Rat Templeton, and funnyman Cedric The Entertainer will play opposite Oprah as Golly, the other Goose. Reba McEntire and Kathy Bates will voice Betsy and Bitsy, two cows who live at the farm. Thomas Haden Church and Outkast star Andre Benjamin (Andre 3000) will take on the roles of crows, Brooks and Elwyn. Dakota Fanning will lead the cast as Fern.
"Charlotte's Web" is scheduled to begin shooting on January 31, 2005 in Melbourne, Australia.
SOURCE: Nick Movies and Paramount Pictures