Josh Widdicombe and Rob Beckett play Greek gods in new movie
First, Brett Goldstein was revealed as an ultra-buff Hercules in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Now, cast rather more against type, given that his only previous acting role was essentially portraying himself in his eponymous BBC sitcom, Josh Widdicombe is playing none other than Zeus, king of the Greek gods, in his feature film debut.
Equally bizarrely perhaps, his podcast co-host Rob Beckett is appearing as Zeus's brother, Poseidon, god of the sea.
The comedians and CBeebies presenter Giovanna Fletcher have lent their voices to the new animated feature Epic Tails, coming to cinemas on February 10th.
Intriguingly, Widdicombe also voices Hermes and Hephaestus in the redubbed French movie, in which an intrepid mouse and cat must save their city state from Poseidon's wrath. Beckett also plays Apollo, while Fletcher is Aphrodite, Artemis, Athena and Hera.
Any suggestion that the Parenting Hell podcasters and The Baby Club presenter Fletcher have been cast for their affinity with children rather than any classical vocal gravitas is not dismissed by the trailer, which though visually impressive, barely features the gods speaking.
Produced by Toulouse-based studio TAT Productions as Pattie et la colère de Poséidon (Pattie and the Wrath of Poseidon), the film is directed by David Alaux (The Jungle Bunch) and produced by Jean-François Tosti.
Earlier this week it was revealed that Widdicombe and Beckett are piloting On Demand, a panel show about television for Sky.