Samuel L. Jackson has joined the cast of the upcoming animated Garfield film.
According to Deadline, Jackson will star as the titular comic strip cat's father, Vic, who is a brand-new character. The actor joins fellow Marvel Cinematic Universe alum Chris Pratt, who plays Garfield himself.
Based on the iconic comic strip character created by Jim Davis in 1976, the film will follow the titular cat, known for his cynical attitude, laziness and, of course, hatres of Mondays. The film will also feature classic characters such as Garfield's owner, Jon Arbuckle, and his fellow pet, Odie, the dog.
Pratt joined the cast in late 2021, though the film itself was originally announced in 2016. Oscar-nominated writer David Reynolds will pen the screenplay and Mark Dindal is set to direct. Garfield is being produced by Alcon Entertainment, after the company having acquired the rights from Davis. Sony Pictures will distribute the film everywhere, except China. DNEG Animation will produce and animate Garfield.
This will not be the first adaptation of the comic strip to hit theaters. 2004 saw the release of the live-action Garfield: The Movie, which starred Bill Murray as the titular cat, Breckin Meyer as Jon Arbuckle and Jennifer Love Hewitt as Dr. Liz Wilson. It was negatively received by many critics, who generally felt it was childish and mainly held a nostalgic appeal for adults. Despite the criticism, the film went on to gross $203.2 million on a budget of $50 million, leading to the release of a sequel.
Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties was released in 2006, featuring the return of Murray, Meyer and Love-Hewitt in their respective roles. While critics felt it was marginally better than its predecessor, they still felt it was childish and would hold little appeal for adult audiences who may have enjoyed the humor of Davis' comic strip. Financially, the sequel film failed to earn as well as the first instalment, grossing $143.3 million on a budget of $60 million.
The Garfield comic holds the Guinness World Record for being the world's most widely syndicated comic strip. Davis continues to possess creative control over the ongoing comic strip, on top of writing and providing rough sketches. However, since the '90s, much of the comic has been handled by Davis' assistants, Brett Koth and Gary Barker.
Garfield is currently scheduled for release on Nov. 22, 2023.
Source: Deadline