Ubisoft Announces Cast Likeness and Coice Talent for Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie

News by GamesIndustry.biz Contributor

Published on Nov. 17, 2005

SAN FRANCISCO - November 16, 2005 - Today Ubisoft and Universal Studios Consumer Products Group announced that Academy Award^® nominee Naomi Watts and Jack Black will appear via likeness and provide voice talent for the videogame Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie. Academy Award^® winner Adrien Brody has also lent his voice talent to the game. All three stellar actors star in Universal Pictures' upcoming motion picture King Kong, directed by Academy Award^® winner Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings trilogy). The videogame, rated "T" for Teen, will release worldwide on most major platforms in November, making it the biggest movie-licensed launch in videogame history.

"We want the movie and the videogame to be a shared experience, so having the voices and likenesses of the actors is very important," said triple Academy Award Winner^® and King Kong director Peter Jackson. "Another great aspect of the collaboration is the absolute enthusiasm that the cast has shown for the game. Jack Black loves seeing himself running around the jungles of Skull Island and it's fun watching him actually play the game."

Michel Ancel, regarded as one of the most innovative minds in the videogame industry, together with his team at Ubisoft's Montpellier studio (France), is working with Peter Jackson and Wingnut Films to capture the King Kong movie dynamics through a unique videogame experience.

"The actors' full integration into the videogame with voice-over and likeness adds yet another layer of fidelity and highlights the close collaboration between Ubisoft's Montpellier studio and Peter Jackson's team," said Michel Ancel, creative director at Ubisoft. "It's been great working with each of these gifted actors from the King Kong motion picture and we appreciate their dedicated, exclusive performances for the videogame."

The voice sessions with the actors were supervised and directed by two-time Academy Award^® Winner Philippa Boyens, co-writer of both the movie and the video game, to ensure the in-game dialogue reflects the tone and style of the film. In fact, other cast members also contributed either their likeness and/or voice talent including, Jamie Bell, Colin Hanks, Thomas Kretschmann, Evan Parke and Andy Serkis.

"I'm really excited my likeness will be used in the videogame. I've always wanted to be in a videogame, it's kind of a dream come true," said Jack Black, who plays the role of Carl Denham for the movie and the game. When asked about his approach to conducting the voice over session, Black shared, "While it's strictly my voice, I'm still acting and using all of my skills as an artist. I went full blast for this videogame."

Academy Award^® winner Adrien Brody added, "It's an amazing thing to be immortalized in a video game! I hope the graphics are still cool by the time my grandkids can play."

About King Kong:

Jackson re-teams with longtime collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, co-writing the screenplay with three-time Oscar^®-winning partner Walsh and The Lord of the Rings co-writer, Academy Award^® winner Boyens. The screenplay is based on the original story by Merian C. Cooper and Edgar Wallace, which became the classic 1933 RKO Radio Pictures film, directed by adventurers Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack. Jan Blenkin, Carolynne Cunningham, Fran Walsh and Jackson are producing the film under their WingNut Films banner, with Universal Pictures releasing King Kong worldwide on December 14, 2005.

Starring in the Universal Pictures release is a slate of some of Hollywood's most versatile and accomplished actors, including Academy Award^® nominee Naomi Watts (21 Grams), Jack Black (School of Rock) and Academy Award^® winner Adrien Brody (The Pianist). Cast members include Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings trilogy), Thomas Kretschmann (U-571), Colin Hanks (Orange County) and Kyle Chandler (Angel's Dance, television's Early Edition).

Jackson brings his sweeping vision and employs the latest motion picture technology to cinematically portray the timeless tale of the beast and his beauty. He expands on the chapters of the tale that take place in the mysterious and dangerous jungles of Skull Island, and his Kong promises to be a unique and breathtaking creation.

As with his Lord of the Rings trilogy, Jackson is currently shooting King Kong on location in his native New Zealand. Visual effects are accomplished by New Zealand-based companies Weta Digital and Weta Workshop, recipients of multiple Academy Awards^® for their collective work on The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Visual effects and miniatures supplement practical locations in creating primordial jungles and '30s-period America. This film has not yet been rated. Please consult www.filmratings.com or www.parentalguide.org for more information.

About Universal Studios Consumer Products Group:

Universal Studios Consumer Products Group (USCPG) is responsible for global licensing and retail strategies as well as building brand recognition of the extensive catalogue of NBC Universal properties.

Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is a unit of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates the No. 1 television network, the fastest-growing Spanish-language network, a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.

About Ubisoft:

Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through its strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has offices in 21 countries and sales in more than 50 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. Ubisoft generated revenue of 538 million for the 2004-2005 fiscal year, an increase of 8 percent over the previous fiscal year at constant exchange rates. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

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