The voice cast for the animated feature film On the Edge has been revealed, with Darryl McCormack and Mia McKenna-Bruce in the lead roles, along with Chris O’Dowd and Mark Rylance. The cast also includes Anna Maxwell Martin, Patterson Joseph, and Vincent Tong.
Octavio Rodriguez, whose credits include Long Gone Long, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and Coco, directed the film and spoke to Variety about what we can expect (see below).
International rights are held by Studio 100 Films, with Viva Kids distributing in the U.S. and Canada.
McCormack broke through with “Good Luck, Leo Grande,” and went on to appear in “Wake Up Deadman” and “Twisters,” while McKenna-Bruce gained attention for her starring role in the Cannes hit “How to Have Sex,” for which she won a BAFTA Rising Star Award. She will play Ringo’s first wife Maureen Starkey in the Beatles movie directed by Sam Mendes.
“On the Edge”
Provided by Studio Blue Green
Rylance’s credits include “The BFG,” “Bridge of Spies” and “Wolf Hall,” while O’Dowd has appeared in “Bridesmaids” and “This is 40.”
On the Edge follows a motley crew of endangered animals, led by Donny, a Cuban solenodon with an adventurous nose, on a global adventure in search of survival, freedom, and all the free snacks they can eat.
“On the Edge”
Provided by Studio Blue Green
Refusing to quietly become extinct, Donnie and his friends embark on an epic journey to break out the world travels of superstar panda and hero of Pandaland, Penn, and discover how fame and “huggability” kept him alive.
Along the way, Donnie haphazardly scouts Vi, a brash, loyal, and fiercely independent aye-aye, among others. Kiki is a flightless kakapo parrot who is kind and optimistic. And Roman, the overly dramatic Jamaican funnel-eared bat.
“On the Edge” was written by Laura Dockrill and Michael Ryan and is a co-production of Studio Bluegreen, Studio 100 International, On the Edge Animation AIE, Able & Baker, Telegael and Viva Pictures.
Voice appearance in “On the Edge”
Provided by Studio Blue Green
The film was produced by Studio Bluegreen, a nonprofit creative studio that “tells nature’s stories in a unique entertainment-driven format to deepen our connection to nature and support global conservation efforts,” according to a statement.
Beth Blood, producer and founder of Studio Bluegreen, said: “Many films claim to be more than just a movie. ‘On the Edge’ is one of the few premium quality, globally released animated features that lives up to that claim. “We made this film to make an impact, not for profit. At its core, this film uses the supreme joy and emotional power of animated storytelling to foster a love for our planet and the incredible animals, species and ecosystems that inhabit it.”
Rodriguez told Variety that he was interested in the project because it featured voices that aren’t often heard. “A lot of the movies and stories that I’m drawn to are underdog stories, where they have to work a little harder to get where they need to go,” he says.
For him, he added, it was about finding messages that “reciprocate across families and generations.” He further added, “It’s like having a conversation with your own children. There’s a curiosity when you look at them and a sense of wonder that they have. I’m trying to find a way to get back to that.”
As the characters go on adventures, he says, they learn “how humans have affected the environment of these animals.” “It’s interesting to see it from Donnie’s perspective, which we’ve never seen before. So it’s all surprising to him.”
I’m referring to the difference in scale between the scene inside the truck and the scene at the airport, and when you see things from the animal’s perspective. “It’s almost foreign to them. They’ve never seen anything like this before. It gives us a unique perspective,” he says. Other memorable scenes include a chase scene under a train and a concert in a Las Vegas-style venue.
He says the film’s humor will come not only from “the characters and their perspectives,” but also “the way humans interact with animals.” “It also goes back to[animals’]unique personalities and how they each have different ways of dealing with things.”
In terms of conveying the film’s conservation message, he says it was important to find a way for audiences to connect with the characters so that the film asks questions and starts conversations. “We’re not spoon-feeding this. It’s really about the story first,” he says. “I really didn’t want to push information on them. I just wanted them to sit back and enjoy the story and be like, ‘I want to know more about these characters.'” My hope is that people walk out of the theater having a conversation and being more interested in what’s going on with these animals. ”
