McConaughey, Scarlett Johansson and Reese Witherspoon sing in Sing'!
Mumbai: Set in a world like ours but entirely inhabited by animals, ‘Sing’ stars Buster Moon (McConaughey), a dapper koala who presides over a once-grand theater that has fallen on hard times. Buster is an eternal—some might even say delusional—optimist who loves his theater above all and will do anything to preserve it. Now faced with the crumbling of his life’s ambition, he has one final chance to restore his fading jewel to its former glory by producing the world’s greatest singing competition.
Five lead contestants emerge: Mike (MacFarlane), a mouse who croons as smoothly as he cons; Meena (Kelly), a timid teenage elephant with an enormous case of stage fright; Rosita (Witherspoon), an overtaxed mother run ragged tending a litter of 25 piglets; Johnny (Egerton), a young gangster gorilla looking to break free of his family’s felonies; and Ash (Johansson), a punk-rock porcupine struggling to shed her arrogant boyfriend and go solo.
Each arrives under Buster’s marquee believing that this is their shot to change the course of their life. And as Buster coaches each of his contestants closer and closer to the grand finale, he starts to learn that maybe the theater isn’t the only thing that is in need of saving.
Featuring more than 65 hit songs, 'Sing' is produced by Meledandri and his longtime collaborator Janet Healy. Together, they have produced all of Illumination’s films since the studio’s inception.
Talking about his role in the film, Mathew said, “I’ve always regarded Buster as the ultimate creator…a showman who refuses to accept defeat and a guy who will accomplish the impossible through sheer force of will. Others may see his theater collapsing around him, but not Buster. Through his eyes, you’ll begin to imagine the crown jewel of this incredible town…a place where people can truly transform.”
The Academy-winning actor McConaughey will be singing hit number ‘Call Me Maybe’ by Carly Rae Jepsen.
Scarlett Johansson, plays the character of Ash, a betrayed teenager who will mend her broken heart through the power of rock-and-roll.
Like all the stars of 'Sing', Johansson does her own singing in the film, including renditions of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” and an all-new original song, ‘Set It All Free’.
“Once Ash understands that all of the attention, effort and energy she’s been giving her worthless boyfriend has been standing in the way of her own musical gifts, she transforms into a badass. Ash eschews outdated expectations that she should deliver a pop-princess act on the stage and just rocks it out with original music. I adore her,” said Johansson.
Reese Witherspoon, who will be singing Katy Perry’s ‘Firework’ and Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake it off’ in the film, sounds excited about her part.
“Ever since she was a girl, Rosita has held on to this tiny part of herself she’s been hesitant to share with the world. But once she genuinely owns who she is, this shy mom and wife realizes that it would be criminal not to unleash her talents. In fact, it’s the love and passion Rosita’s given and received that pours out of her when she embraces her inner diva and lets loose,” said Reese.
Yet another interesting role, that of a con man, will be played be actor-comedian Seth Macfarlane. Talking about his role, Seth said, “What I like about this character is that he has zero concept of just how small he is. Mike is a whirlwind mix of bravado, swagger and showmanship, and he genuinely believes he has nothing to prove. He needs the contest money because he’s made some very poor decisions, and he’s certain that his larger-than-life personality and stage persona hold the ticket to winning.”
Seth, too, will be lending his voice in the movie. Irving Berlin’s ‘Let’s Face the Music and Dance’, and ‘Pennies From Heaven’.
Other stars who are part of this Universal Pictures movie are Taron Egerton, Tori Kelly and Nick Kroll.
