His childlike glee was one of the highlights of this year’s Oscar ceremony and it seems Eddie Redmayne really is young at heart. Having secured Hollywood’s highest accolade, he’s jumped aboard a straight-to-DVD animated movie of evergreen kids’ favourite THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE.
With an unusual subtitle of Sodor’s Legend Of The Lost Treasure, the new production also stars John Hurt and Jamie Campbell Bower. Sodor is the fictional island location where the stories are set, though sounds for all the world like something out of LORD OF THE RINGS these days.
Created by the Rev W. Awdry in 1946, the brand has seen a few adaptations, most notably the TV series voiced by Ringo Starr. However its first and only feature length outing was THOMAS AND THE MAGIC RAILROAD, a lamentable live action film starring Alec Baldwin and Peter Fonda.
Redmayne voices articulate train Ryan, and has issued a typically enthusiastic statement:
I grew up loving to watch Thomas and his pals getting caught up in the unexpected and mischievous adventure. I jumped at the opportunity to get involved, and what fun it was… I have never voiced an animated character before, and I had a complete blast.
The DVD/VOD project hits shelves in September. Meanwhile the actor is keeping things varied playing a transgender role in Tom Hooper’s forthcoming THE DANISH GIRL.
Source: THR
