Paramount Animation has acquired the animated feature Blazing Samurai, which has a stellar voice cast led by Michael Cera.
The studio acquired the movie from GFM Animation for North America and other key international territories, setting a U.S. release of 22 July 2022.
Directed by Rob Minkoff and veteran animator Mark Koetsier. Along with Cera, the voice cast includes Samuel L. Jackson, Ricky Gervais, Mel Brooks, George Takei, Djimon Hounsou, Michelle Yeoh, Cathy Shim, Kylie Kuioka, Gabriel Iglesias, and Aasif Mandvi.
According to THR, Cera voices Hank, a dog who dreams of becoming a samurai in a land where that privilege is reserved exclusively for cats. He gets his chance when a post opens up in the small town of Kakamucho, but little does Hank know that the local warlord (Gervais) who hired him is bent on destroying the town for his own gain. Seemingly destined to fail, Hank coaxes a reluctant, once great samurai (Jackson) out of retirement to become his mentor, and together they become samurai heroes.
Blazing Samurai is presented by Aniventure and financer Align in association with HB Wink Animation and GFM Animation, animated by Cinesite Montreal in 3D CG. Minkoff and Koetsier direct from an original screenplay by Ed Stone and Nate Hopper, revised by Robert Ben Garant and Minkoff who also produce alongside Adam Nagle and Guy Collins. Alex Schwartz, Adrian Politowski, and Martin Metz executive producer.