Animated film producer singles out Suri Cruise for first role

A producer who wishes to make an animated film about the world-famous polar bear Knut says he’s offered the Berlin Zoo $5 million for the rights to the animal’s story — and he has some definite ideas about who he’d like to see involved with the movie.  Suri Cruise, the 20-month-old daughter of actors Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, visited 1-year-old Knut while in Berlin last year.  Says Ash R. Shah, owner of The Animation Picture Company,

I see the heartwarming relationship between Knut and his caretaker, Thomas Doerflein at the center of the movie … Suri [Cruise] could speak the English voice of Knut.

Despite the offer, Ash says he’s heard nothing from Tom and Katie’s reps. 

Source:  People

Comments

hmmm… Kinda strange.
I think it’s a bit odd to single out a child who’s voice you’ve never heard. I mean she’s 20 months old… this is a bit absurd!

- Rachel on January 2nd, 2008

That’d be very cute to have Knut voiced by Suri, or any celebrity baby that has visited him. However, we don’t know if Suri talks or if she even speaks well. Also, that would be quite a large role for Suri and kids aren’t always so great at repeating scripted roles. It sounds like a lot to handle for a 2 year old.

- Colleen on January 2nd, 2008

Or a not-even two year old! Is she even speaking yet, much less fluently? My son didn’t even get to two-word phrases until the morning of his second-birthday. Even now, at 2.5, he speaks in full sentences (paragraphs even), but there’s no way you could reliably get him to voice what you’d want him to. He’d want to go off and play!

This reeks of publicity stunt!

- Anjani on January 2nd, 2008

It depends on when they start production, I guess. If Suri already has a good vocabulary at her age, why not? I think they would hold off production until she’s at least 2.

- Nausicaa on January 2nd, 2008

Well, it can take a few years to actually put together a movie, so by that point she’d probably be 4 or so would be my guess. Still, I think it’s kind of strange and wonder if he’s serious b/c it seems he’s going about it (getting Suri involved) all wrong talking to the press and then wondering why Tom and Katie haven’t commented…

- M on January 2nd, 2008

But…what if it turns out she sounds like Kathleen Turner??

- daphneesmith on January 2nd, 2008

Suri is a beautiful child and seems to have a cute personality, I will not be surprised if she is in acting one day in the future. A lot of celebrity kids follow in their parents footsteps, and for some reason I can see suri being one of those children.

- gabriella on January 2nd, 2008

I read the original article on people.com and it sounds like to me like he was joking. But who knows, animated movies take years to make.

- stephanie on January 2nd, 2008

Ridiculous story. I don’t really get the Suri hype? Surely this is just for publicity (in which case – brilliant!)

- brannon on January 2nd, 2008

i think this is hilarious, but its possible she is a very good talker. my daughter started talking at 9 months and full sentences very early on. man, there are days i just want peace and quiet!

- Monika on January 2nd, 2008

To the commentors who asked if Suri can even talk yet…Yes, she can. Katie mentioned in an interview several months back that Suri’s first word was “mama” and her second was “dada”. In otherwords, Suri can obviously say at least a few words.

That said, I can actually understand why they might want Suri for the role. Most of the time, in animated movies featuring animals, the animals tend to have high, child-like voices. Since Suri visited Knut AND she is a kid (and thus could easily provide the high, child-like voice), they probably just thought it would be cute to have her voice him.

Like some other posters have stated, it takes several years to make an animated movie, so Suri would probably actually be 3 or 4 by the time voice-over work began.

- Annoyomus on January 2nd, 2008

maybe it would take a couple of years, but there are still child labour laws to consider.this is a movie where suri would play a central role, not just goin “yeah that sounds fun!” or something child-like every 1/2hr.it’s way too much work for a toddler IMHO.god only knows what tom & katie are thinking right about now.

- ang on January 3rd, 2008

I think it is a good story to tell. I think Suri or no Suri the movie will make record box office sales. I mean it is kids and it is a cute if not a little sad story. I agree Suri will give it a lot of publicity though. Hopefully she will be talking by then.Kids minds are so different from those of grown ups and they are so low on attention span. Suri seems clever but she is also strong willed and cpuld give them some problems. She seems clever and intelligent and Katie did say she is talking up a storm.

Was it Garber who said that Violet Affleck asks a lot of questions and she was not even 2 yet, so I guess kids her age talk and voiced by a kid, it will be a great movie.

I would like to hear what Suri sounds like.

- Mia on January 3rd, 2008

I have just been reading about knut and it is a story that brought tears to my eyes. Being rejected and put down. I love Suri and she is just about as cute as Knut.SO I guess the role would be perfect for her. I hoe this is true.

- Janey on January 3rd, 2008