Philip Seymour Hoffman's voice role

Thursday, 2 October 2008

Philip Seymour Hoffman is to lend his voice to a claymation movie.

The Oscar-winning actor will play Max opposite Toni Collette in 'Mary and Max', the first film from writer/director Adam Elliot and producer Melanie Coombs since their animated short 'Harvie Krumpet', won Best Animated Short Film at the 2004 Oscars.

The film is to be narrated by Barry Humphries and also features a cameo from Eric Bana.

Mark Gooder, CEO of Icon Film Distribution who are releasing the film, described the 'Capote' star's casting as "the icing on the cake".

He said: "'Mary and Max' is one of our highlights for release next year. Adam and Melanie have assembled a stunning voice-cast and the addition of Phillip Seymour Hoffman is the icing on the cake.

"That one of the most 'in demand' actors in the world would agree to voice an independent Australian animation speaks volumes for the creative integrity of this project."

Adam added: "Philip's voice enlivened, invigorated and supported the suspension of disbelief so crucial in a stop-motion film."

The film follows the correspondence between unlikely pen-pals Mary, a chubby lonely eight-year-old Australian girl, and 44-year-old Max, a Jewish man with Asperger's Syndrome who lives in New York, and follows their fortunes over 20 years.

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