Guest Contributor
To celebrate the release of ”Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” on 11th September, we have curated a list of the best-ever feature film character voices. The talent behind the voices can often be overlooked in favour of their on-screen human counterparts – you might get a shock or two about the actors behind some of the most iconic characters in modern cinema!
1. Johnny Knoxville – Leonardo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The upcoming live-action ”Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” film added this real-life Jackass to the voice cast in April this year. The eternal prankster has toned down his funny man persona to voice the leader of the half-shell gang, Leonardo. See it in Australian cinemas 11th September 2014.
2. Bradley Cooper – Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy
Officially cast in the film in August 2013, this is Cooper’s first ever voice role – and he stole the show. Described as the “heart” of the movie by James Gunn (director), Cooper didn’t hold anything back in his voice performance of the genetically engineered bounty hunter.
3. Andy Serkis – Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy
Serkis has been behind some of the most memorable cinematic faces of the last decade, but he is known to millions of fans because of this iconic performance capture role. The first instalment in the Lord of the Rings franchise was released unto the world in 2001. Serkis portrays the depraved creature Gollum.
4. Hugo Weaving – Megatron in the Transformers franchise
Megatron is the head honcho Decepticon in Michael Bay’s huge Transformers franchise. He is Optimus Prime’s arch enemy in the war between the Autobots and Decepticons. Australian-British Weaving was chosen for the role when Bay thought Frank Welker, voice of Megatron in the original Transformers series, wasn’t a good fit.
5. George Clooney – Mr. Fox in Fantastic Mr. Fox
Considering his “silver fox” reputation, the two-time Oscar winner (and heart-stealer) was perhaps the perfect choice for the role of Mr. Fox in this Wes Anderson flick. Clooney’s second ever voice role, Mr. Fox is simultaneously the star of the film, a frequent bird thief and a newspaper columnist.
