FIRST LOOK
Beautiful Concept Art and Voice Cast Revealed for Pixar's 'Brave' Film
by Ethan Anderton
March 28, 2011
Source: EW
Last April we found out that Pixar's 2012 summer film The Bear and the Bow would now simply be called Brave. Now EW has word on the voice cast for the animated feature and the big news is that Reese Witherspoon will no longer voice the lead character, a tomboyish princess named Merida. Instead it will be Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald ("Boardwalk Empire") lending her voice to the character. Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane, Kevin McKidd and Craig Ferguson will also join her. In addition, we also have three pieces of beautiful concept art for the animated film which you can check out below.
Here's the concept art for Brave (courtesy of EW):
Brave is set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, where Merida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman (Julie Walters) and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Merida’s quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom’s three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), the surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson), and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane).
Though last October brought news that Pixar's first female director Brenda Chapman (Prince of Egypt) may be taken off the project, apparently she will now have a co-director in Mark Andrews (who directed Pixar's animated short One Man Band). However, it's important to note that Andrews is no primarily responsible for finishing the film for its June 22, 2012 release, but Chapman's work wasn't going to be ignored. I suppose it's kind of worrisome to have a director lose a little control of a film like this, but I have full faith in Pixar. How about you?
19 Comments
1
Epic..?
Manuel on Mar 28, 2011
2
Please be better than "Up" please!
Anonymous on Mar 28, 2011
3
what's your beef with "UP" Xerxexx?
Duane on Mar 28, 2011
4
"Up" suffered he same way as "Cars" suffered...bad plot boring characters.
Anonymous on Mar 28, 2011
5
the plot was great! whats better than reconnecting to your youth, and accomlishing goals in life? not to mention, Carl is one of the greatest characters pixar ever produced.
rocKKicer on Mar 29, 2011
6
I should have said boring characters with the exception of Carl.
Anonymous on Mar 29, 2011
7
You have no idea how much I agree with you. Up and Cars were by far Pixar's lowest on the creative pool. Cars is just terrible. Up was flat out boring.
Hkunati on Jun 22, 2011
8
....and Wally, don't forget that Cred X!
Anonymous on Mar 29, 2011
9
I actually enjoyed Wall-E...thought it was great, a little generic but that didn't bother me.
Anonymous on Mar 29, 2011
10
Duane - because UP was the worst Pixar movie to date (ok I haven't seen Toy Story 3). Sure they are beloved and quite the sacred cow but I don't mind goring them. I love older Pixar stuff - the Incredibles was a GREAT film - Finding Nemo and Monsters. But their recent mix of sappy sequals that every criti sucks up to - and nonsensical BS like UP which is just assinine.
Harm on Mar 28, 2011
11
You have no idea how much I agree with you. There used to be GENUINE meaning to every script without the intent of the 'awwww' moments. When Dory says to Marlon, "I'm at home with you,' it's not only sad, but you get this intense heart wrenching feeling from a fish! Up and their recent releases (sadly including TS3) just don't hit home in terms of humor and story. It could merely be preference, but i'm of the view that it's a little more than that, since I've tried watching these movies atleast more than 3 times.
heddwynk on Mar 28, 2011
12
i respectfully disagree. I enjoyed Up for what it was. i connected to the carl character and the movie itself reminded me of adventures i had a child that i seemed to forget as i got older due to circumstance and/or changes.
rocKKicker on Mar 29, 2011
13
Why does everybody love the Incredibles? Love all the Pixars films except that movie, it just annoys me to bits... so incredibly boring story, sorry.
Nat on Mar 28, 2011
14
Gahh!! That first shot spoils the awesomness of the teaser trailer. That part is so scary and cool because you don't notice that one of the rocks is a bear at first. Such a shame.
George Caltsoudas on Mar 28, 2011
15
This will be terrible. Some Celtic ginger Jocksploitation rubbish. As if Mel Gibson hasn't ruined Scotland enough. 'Brave' indeed.
Crapola on Mar 28, 2011
16
Boring, there are much better epic stories coming from mainland Europe.
Merida on Mar 28, 2011
17
Hurry up Pixar! I wanna see this movie already! <33
scotty6000 on Mar 31, 2011
18
nice cant wait
A5J4DX on Nov 13, 2018
19
nice cant wait
A5J4DX on Nov 13, 2018
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