Anna Faris and Dan Aykroyd Join Yogi Bear
Anna Faris and Dan Aykroyd are headed to Jellystone to find “Pic-a-nic Baskets” as they are in talks to star in Warner Bros. Yogi Bear. This will be a feature film based on the popular Hanna-Barbera cartoon. Also negotiating to join the project is Justin Timberlake.
Eric Brevig is directing this project which will be both live-action/CG. Faris is going to play a nature documentarian who tags along on the antics of a bear in Jellystone Park. Aykroyd is going to voice Yogi and Timberlake might voice Yogi’s companion, Boo Boo.
Joshua Sternin and Jeff Ventimilia wrote the original draft of this film, while Brad Copeland has written the most recent one. The plan is for production on this project to start in New Zealand this December.
When I originally read this story I thought that Aykroyd would be a good fit as Ranger Smith but his voice would serve as a good Yogi as well. I like the idea of getting Faris as a documentary filmmaker which is a nice clever add in to the series idea because the initial cartoon plot was always the same.
Yogi, accompanied by his constant companion Boo Boo, would often try to steal picnic (”pick-a-nic”) baskets from campers in the park, much to the displeasure of Park Ranger Smith. A girlfriend, Cindy Bear, sometimes appeared and usually disapproved of Yogi’s antics. Yogi is known for his famous sayings such as the one “I’m smarter than the average bear!” He often greets the ranger with a cordial, “Hello, Mr. Ranger, sir!” He also likes to say, “Hey, Boo Boo!” as his preferred greeting to his humble sidekick.
