Smurfs director Chris Miller wanted to ‘honour the DNA of original comics’ with upcoming animation

Smurfs director Chris Miller wanted to “honour the DNA of the original comics” with his upcoming animated feature film on the creatures.

The movie – which will feature Rihanna as the voice of Smurfette – is set for release on 18 July through Paramount and Chris says he looked for his inspiration in the original designs for the blue mushroom house forest dwellers, created by Belgian artist Peyo in the late 1950s.

He was quoted by Variety saying: “ I wanted to honor the DNA of the original comics, the Peyo designs — that was vitally important to me.”

Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation president Ramsey Naito also told Variety about the project: “It’s one of those rare global titles that always stood out for its slapstick humour, cat and mouse storylines, and the Smurfs’ individual roles in their community.”

The new film will also premiere in Brussels as a nod to the characters’ Belgian origin.

Along with Rihanna as Smurfette, it will also feature James Corden as No Name, John Goodman as Papa Smurf and Nick Offerman as Ken, Papa Smurf’s brother.

Rihanna, who is also an executive producer, contributed original songs to the movie.

Chris said of the singer: “She was really very insightful.”

The story centres on No Name, a Smurf struggling to discover his identity.

Ramsey Naito added: “We kept coming back to one question: What is a Smurf? And that led us to a more universal question: Who am I? So, we centred the story around a Smurf named No Name who does not yet have a clear identity or thing and is on a journey to discover it.

“That’s something all of us can relate to — we all share in this ‘moment’ in life where we don’t know who we are or what we’re meant to be.”

Chris said the film also delves into Smurf mythology, exploring why Papa Smurf created a magical village hidden in a Belgian forest.

“When Papa is kidnapped by the Evil Alliance of Wizards, the Smurfs have to leave the safe confines of Smurf Village to rescue him,” he said.

Chris added: “Along the way, they learn a Smurf family secret that reveals their true purpose in the universe and finally answers the question — what is a Smurf?”

The screenplay was written by Pam Brady, whose credits include South Park and Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken.

Chris admitted he initially worried about directing the film, saying: “Like, I don’t know if I can do that, and then I read Pam Brady’s treatment, and immediately I’m like, this is fantastic. The tone is so good, and she’s such a funny writer and daring.”