Rihanna is making a big splash in the world of animation with her upcoming role as Smurfette in the new Smurfs movie. The pop superstar, who is expecting her second child with rapper A$AP Rocky, surprised fans with the announcement at CinemaCon 2023 on Thursday. She also revealed that she will be creating and performing original songs for the film, which she will co-produce with Paramount Pictures.
The Smurfs movie, which is slated for release on February 14, 2025, will explore the origins and identity of the beloved blue creatures, who live in a hidden village in the forest. Rihanna will voice Smurfette, the first and only female Smurf, who was originally created by the evil wizard Gargamel to sabotage the Smurfs. However, she later became a loyal and brave member of the Smurf community.
Rihanna is no stranger to voice acting, having previously starred as Tip in the 2015 animated film Home, based on the children's book The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex. She also recorded a concept album for the film, titled Home: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Fans are eagerly awaiting to hear what kind of music she will bring to the Smurfs movie, as well as her long-awaited ninth studio album, which has been delayed for years.
The Smurfs movie will also feature other talented voice actors, such as **Tom Holland** as Clumsy Smurf, **Kevin Hart** as Brainy Smurf, **Tiffany Haddish** as Sassette Smurfette, **John Goodman** as Papa Smurf, and **Rainn Wilson** as Gargamel . The film is written by **Pam Brady**, who has worked on South Park and Team America: World Police, and directed by **Kelly Asbury**, who helmed Shrek 2 and UglyDolls.
The Smurfs movie will be the fifth feature film based on the comic book series by Belgian cartoonist Peyo, following The Smurfs (2011), The Smurfs 2 (2013), The Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017), and Smurfs: The Magic Flute (1983). However, unlike the previous films, which were a mix of live-action and animation, the new film will be fully animated in CGI. It will also be a reboot of the franchise, with a new story and a different tone from the previous films.
Rihanna expressed her excitement for playing Smurfette at CinemaCon 2023, saying that she hopes to earn some "cool points" with her kids one day. She also joked that she tried to get the role of Papa Smurf, but it didn't work out for her. Rihanna's fans are thrilled to see her take on this iconic character and bring her unique style and charisma to the Smurfs movie.