According to The Hollywood Reporter, Timberlake will be voicing the lead character in DreamWorks Animation’s musical comedy Trolls. The 34-year-old “Mirrors” singer will star as Branch, who is “a hardcore survivalist who hides his surprising true colors.” Timberlake will voice the Scandinavian troll opposite Pitch Perfect star Anna Kendrick, who previously signed onto the project as Princess Poppy. Kendrick, who will play the relentlessly upbeat Princess Poppy, signed onto Trolls in 2014.
The film will be released on Nov. 4, 2016 via 20th Century Fox and will be directed by Mike Mitchell and co-directed by Walt Dohrn — the duo behind Shrek Forever After. The film will also be produced by Gina Shay, another fellow Shrek Forever After alum.
“Anna has proven herself to be a brilliant actress with an amazing singing voice,” Mitchell said to Variety and continued, “She’ll inject Poppy with the exact mix of spirit, sass and song that will no doubt give a whole new life to the iconic Troll dolls.”
According to Variety, DreamWorks Animation paired up with Trolls rights holder Dam Things in 2013 to “adapt the dolls into films and TV shows.” As per the terms of the deal, DWA handles worldwide rights to the characters with the exception of Scandinavia.
