The Boy and the Heron's English voice cast has been officially revealed, and it's absolutely stacked with high-quality talent. The new Studio Ghibli film, previously touted as the last of famed animator Hayao Miyazaki's illustrious career, features names including Christian Bale, Florence Pugh and Mark Hamill, and that's just to start.
Here's the full list revealed earlier today.
- Christian Bale - Shoichi Maki
- Dave Bautista - The Parakeet King
- Gemma Chan - Natsuko
- Willem Dafoe - Noble Pelican
- Karen Fukuhara - Lady Himi
- Mark Hamill - Granduncle
- Robert Pattinson - The Gray Heron
- Florence Pugh - Kiriko
Bale is the film's lead, playing protagonist Shoichi Maki, who is the father of young Mahito Maki.
Most of the actors involved in the production have some kind of voice acting experience. Christian Bale previously appeared in Howl's Moving Castle as Howl, while Florence Pugh starred in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Mark Hamill, of course, needs no introduction, having gained fame as the iconic voice of the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series in addition to countless other projects.
The 'ultimate statement' from Hayao Miyazaki
Set during World War II, The Boy and the Heron follows Mahito Maki as he enters an alternate world filled with Ghibli's customarily wondrous imagery. We reviewed the Boy and the Heron during the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and praised it as the "ultimate statement" from Miyazaki.
"It's Studio Ghibli's most visually complex film to date, while also contemplating the legacy of a legendary filmmaker and the world he is leaving behind. It serves as an ultimate statement from Miyazaki, and the perfect coda to his career," we wrote.
But hold up, while The Boy and the Heron has been touted as Miyazaki's final film, it turns out that the old master isn't done quite yet. Indeed, it looks like it was another retirement fake-out, as Miyazaki is reportedly already working on his next movie.
Even if it isn't his final movie, though, it looks to be another amazing Ghibli film with a stellar cast. It's slated to arrive in theaters on December 8.
Kat Bailey is IGN's News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
