Christian Bale, Gemma Chan, Mark Hamill and Florence Pugh Lead ‘The Boy and the Heron’ English-Language Voice Cast

Indie producer and distributor GKIDS has revealed the English voice cast for Hayao Miyazaki’s anticipated hand-drawn animated feature The Boy and the Heron.

The cast includes Christian Bale (Shoichi Maki), Dave Bautista (the Parakeet King), Gemma Chan (Natsuko), Willem Dafoe (Noble Pelican), Karen Fukuhara (Lady Himi), Mark Hamill (Grand Uncle), Robert Pattinson (The Grey Heron) and Florence Pugh (Kiriko). Luca Padovan joins the cast as protagonist Mahito Maki, with Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolori and Dan Stevens featured as the Parakeets.

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GKIDS handled casting and produced the English version in close consultation with Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli. Slated for a North American release Dec. 8 in both the original Japanese and English-language versions, the film is an original semi-autobiographical story and Oscar winner Miyazaki’s first feature film in a decade.

The Boy and the Heron was a hit when it opened July 14 in Japan. It made its international premiere as the opening-night film at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be presented in Imax at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Oct. 18 to open the Animation Is Film Festival.

GKIDS handles North American distribution for the Studio Ghibli film and produces the annual Ghibli Fest.

Bale is represented by WME, Viewpoint and Goodman Genow. Bautista is repped by CAA, Meisner Entertainment Group’s Jonathan Meisner, Kovert Creative and Jackoway Austen Tyerman’s Karl Austen. Chan is represented by Independent, WME and M88. Dafoe is represented by Circle of Confusion, WME and Narrative. Fukuhara is represented by UTA and Stride Management. Hamill is represented by Gersh, R&CPMK and Robert M. Lange. Pattinson is represented by WME, Curtis Brown, 3 Arts Entertainment, Narrative and Sloane Offer. Pugh is represented by CAA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Shelter PR and Gregory Slewett from JSSK.

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