Hugh Grant to lead voice cast of Aardman/Sony's The Pirates!

Hugh Grant will voice the lead role of Pirate Captain for The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists, by Aardman Animations for Sony Pictures Animation.’

The new stop-motion, 3D, animated film will be distributed by Columbia Pictures. It is slated for a March 30, 2012 launch in the UK.

The other members of the voice cast will include Martin Freeman, Brendan Gleeson, Russell Tovey, Ashley Jensen, Jeremy Piven, Salma Hayek, Imelda Staunton and David Tennant.

Aardman founder Peter Lord directs, with Jeff Newitt co-directing.

Gideon Defoe wrote the screenplay based on his books.

Producers are Lord, David Sproxton, and Julie Lockhart, and the executive Producer is Carla Shelley.

Lord said, “I’m so grateful to the entire cast for their talent and energy. The characters that they’ve created fill the screen with life and fun. As the Pirate Captain, Hugh Grant has given a stand-out performance – he combines an effortless on-screen warmth with brilliant comic timing. And as the leader of our motley pirate crew, he shows a real barnstorming, swashbuckling side of his character as well.  Only Hugh could anchor this story of love, loyalty, greed, and nautical high-jinks.”