[Casting News] Naomi Watts joins Aussie animated film Larrikins

Naomi Watts, Hugh Jackman, Rose Byrne, and Ben Mendelsohn are headed to the outback.

The four actors will lend their voices to Larrikins, DreamWorks Animation’s musical film about a sheltered Australian marsupial who embarks on a rock & roll road trip with some newfound animal pals.The quartet join Margot Robbie and Jacki Weaver in the all-Aussie cast, which also includes Josh Lawson, Damon Herriman, and Ewen Leslie.

Tim Minchin, the multihyphenate comedian, actor, and musician behind Matilda the Musical, is directing Larrikins alongside Chris Miller (Shrek the Third, Puss in Boots).

Larrikins, which takes its title from an Australian slang word for mischievous youth or maverick, is expected to be distributed by Universal Pictures, whose parent company NBCUniversal recently acquired DWA. The film was originally scheduled to open Feb. 16, 2018.