Animated adventure The Wild Robot has a lot going for it from the arresting visuals to the uplifting themes of identity and solidarity. It also sports an all-star voice cast who invest even more life into the film's fantastical cast of animated characters, so let's find out more.
ROZZUM 'Roz' Unit 7134 (voiced by Lupita Nyong'o)
The ROZZUM line of robots, designed by Universal Dynamics, is designed to assist with all manner of consumer needs, but it was never expected that a tranche of them would end up washed ashore on a remote tropical island. The only surviving unit is Unit 7134 who attempts to sell her wares to the island's bemused animal inhabitants before reconfiguring her programming to be able to speak in their language.
Having accidentally obliterated a goose's nest, ROZZUM 7134, who later dubs herself Roz, discovers she is responsible for orphaning a tiny gosling. When the chick hatches Roz adopts the gosling as her own and she later names him Brightbill. Having changed her primary settings, Roz then starts experiencing complex emotions that relate to her nascent parenthood and her thoughts of what will happen when Brightbill flies the coop.
Roz is voiced by Lupita Nyong'o who won an Oscar for her incendiary performance as Patsey in Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave. She also appeared in Marvel's Black Panther movies (2018 and 2022) and played an electrifying dual role in Jordan Peele's chilling horror Us (2019).
Brightbill (voiced by Kit Connor)
Brightbill is the plucky underdog gosling who sees Roz as his mother. His unusual upbringing at the hands of a robot (seen by the rest of the island's inhabitants as a monster) leads to Brightbill being ostracised by his kind, but Roz knows that he will eventually have to join his flock and make the long migration south.
Brightbill is voiced by rising star Kit Connor who has arrested the attention in the tender coming-of-age series Heartstopper. He first garnered attention for playing the youthful Elton John in Dexter Fletcher's biopic Rocketman (2019) and will next appear in Alex Garland's film Warfare.
Fink (voiced by Pedro Pascal)
Fink is the island's resident red fox and although he appears devious and self-centered at first, he eventually reveals vulnerable, empathetic sides to himself. When Roz first adopts Brightbill she fears that Fink will stick to the laws of nature and eat the vulnerable gosling chick. Instead, Fink educates her about how geese imprint on the first thing they see and he becomes an educational partner in teaching Brightbill how to fly.
Fink is voiced by Pedro Pascal whose recent career purple patch includes The Mandalorian and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022). On November 15th, we'll get to see the charismatic Pascal step into the Roman gladiatorial arena in Ridley Scott's epic sequel Gladiator 2 (November 15th).
Pinktail (voiced by Catherine O'Hara)
Pinktail provides much of the film's comic relief. She's an opossum and the long-suffering mother of six kids, or is it seven? Given that nature is red in tooth and claw on the island she often loses track of how many sprogs she has, which results in several of the film's funniest moments. Both Pinktail and her kids are experts at playing dead and deflecting potential predators (hence the phrase 'playing possum'), which lends more memorable slapstick humour to the movie.
Pinktail is voiced by scene-stealer extraordinaire and veteran voiceover artist Catherine O'Hara who has parlayed her affinity for offbeat characters into multiple films for Christopher Guest and the hit series Schitt's Creek. O'Hara can currently be seen in Tim Burton's morbid comedy-horror sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Thorn (voiced by Mark Hamill)
The phrase 'bear with a sore head' was invented for the grumpy and fearsome Thorn whom Roz first comes across when she disturbs him in his den. He then chases her away, resulting in her smashing Brightbill's nest. Initially, it seems like Thorn will be a thorn in the side of Roz's attempts to get Brightbill to fly. However, as the film reaches its conclusion (no spoilers), the massive bear proves to be another valuable ally.
Thorn is voiced by Star Wars veteran Mark Hamill. The actor is also famous for his multifaceted voice roles including his turn as The Joker in the Batman animated series and subsequent movies.
Longneck (voiced by Bill Nighy)
British veteran Bill Nighy voices the kindly goose Longneck who becomes Brightbill's mentor on the lengthy and dangerous migration. Nighy has been acclaimed for his roles in everything from broad comedy (2003's Love Actually) and melancholic drama (2022's Living).
Vontra (voiced by Stephanie Hsu)
Vontra is the Universal Dynamics robot tasked with retrieving Roz. She's voiced by Stephanie Hsu who enjoyed a breakout role as Michelle Yeoh's on-screen daughter in the multi-Oscar-winning hit Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022).
Paddler (voiced by Matt Berry)
British comedian Matt Berry's distinctive intonations are put to good use in his role as the snooty beaver Paddler. His attempts to build a new home are constantly interrupted by the rest of the characters, but Paddler later shows himself to be more than just a comic relief side character.
Thunderbolt (voiced by Ving Rhames)
Thunderbolt is the mighty bird of prey who teaches Brightbill how to fly. He's voiced in imposing fashion by Pulp Fiction and Mission: Impossible actor Ving Rhames.
It's now time to meet these memorable characters on the big screen. Click the link below to book your tickets for The Wild Robot, which opens on October 18th. Remember that with the Cineworld Family Ticket, you only need to pay a small uplift on special formats IMAX, 4DX and Superscreen. The Family Ticket is valid for 2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children.
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