Fern Brady & Jamali Maddix get their freak on for Stitch Head movie
Fern Brady and Jamali Maddix are to make their film debuts, playing a trio of freaks, British Comedy Guide can exclusively reveal.
The comedians are voicing characters in the upcoming animated feature Stitch Head, alongside Rob Brydon, Alison Steadman, Asa Butterfield, Joel Fry and Relativity's Tia Bannon.
Based on the first book in Guy Bass series of children's novels about a small, shy creature, Stitch Head (Butterfield) is brought to life by a Dr Frankenstein-like mad professor (Brydon). The film is written by Steve Hudson, who co-directs with Toby Genkel (The Amazing Maurice) for GFM Animation.
Brady plays Madame Miranda in the film, believed to be based upon the novel's bearded lady, Madame Moustache. The Madame is part of a travelling freakshow operated by the story's villain, Fulbert Freakfinder, who plots to capture the Professor's collection of weird and wonderful creations for his business. Maddix meanwhile, plays Taj and Tej, though to be based on two other members of the freakshow, The Topsy-Turvy Twins.
Fry co-stars as Creature, Stitch Head's hideous but loveable best friend. Bannon is Arabella, a fearless young girl who becomes the monster's greatest ally and Steadman is Nan. The actor playing Freakfinder has yet to be announced.
The story sees Stitch Head brought to life in a castle high above the little town of Grubbers Nubbin.
Having finished making him however, the Professor promptly moves on to his next creation. So it's up to Stitch Head to take care of all the monsters, and most of all, keep them safe: act too monstrous, and the townsfolk below will form an angry mob and burn down the castle. Stitch Head and his fellow-monsters are as terrified of humans as the townsfolk are of the things they suspect live up in the Castle.
But then a travelling freak show comes to town, led by the desperate Freakfinder. The show is on its last legs and frankly, not frightening at all. When Freakfinder meets the humble Stitch Head, he knows at last he has found a star who will turn his fortunes around completely.
Sonja Ewers produces Stitch Head for Gringo Films, Mark Mertens for Fabrique d'Images. Marc Gabizon and Michael Luda co-produce with Fabrique d'Images, Traumhaus Studios, and Senator Film acting as co-production companies. Development and pre-production has been undertaken at Fabrique d'Images, Lava Labs and Pixomondo. Nick Urata, who won an Oscar for his work on Little Miss Sunshine, is composing the film's score.
Ewers said: "A castle full of monsters all terrified of humans is a great starting point for a comedy - and for a film that empowers kids to face down fears. In the end, laughter is stronger, and we're delighted GFM Animation will be bringing Stitch Head to audiences around the world."
Below is a clip from earlier in the test animation process:
GFM Animation's films include the upcoming A Greyhound Of A Girl, based upon the Roddy Doyle novel and featuring the voices of Sharon Horgan and Brendan Gleeson, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival last month.
And as previously reported, Mo Gilligan is also set to make his film debut as the lead in another GFM Animation movie, 10 Lives.
The story of a pampered cat who loses his ninth life, other voice stars on the film include Bill Nighy, Derry Girls star Dylan Llewellyn, Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso) and Simone Ashley (Sex Education).
Josh Widdicombe and Rob Beckett also made their cinematic debuts in an animation recently, voicing Greek gods in the comedy Epic Tales last month.