DreamWorks Animation Lines Up Cast for 'Monsters vs. Aliens'

DreamWorks Animation Lines Up Cast for 'Monsters vs. Aliens'

GLENDALE, Calif., March 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (NYSE:DWA) and Paramount Pictures Corporation (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) today announced a monstrously talented line-up for DreamWorks Animation's "Monsters vs. Aliens" the studio's first film produced in Ultimate 3-D technology. "Monsters vs. Aliens," which is slated for a domestic release date of March 27, 2009, reinvents the classic '50s monster movie into an irreverent modern day action comedy.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080311/LATU005)

The cast of "Monsters vs. Aliens" includes: Oscar(R) winner Reese Witherspoon ("Walk the Line," "Rendition") as Susan Murphy, a.k.a. Ginormica; Golden Globe winner Hugh Laurie (TV's "House," "Stuart Little") as Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.; Will Arnett (TV's "Arrested Development," "Blades of Glory") as The Missing Link; Seth Rogen ("Knocked Up," "Superbad") as B.O.B.; Rainn Wilson ("Juno," TV's "The Office") as Gallaxhar; Emmy winner Stephen Colbert (TV's "The Colbert Report," "Bewitched") as The President of the United States; Golden Globe winner Kiefer Sutherland (TV's "24," "Phone Booth") as General W.R. Monger; and Paul Rudd ("Knocked Up," "Night at the Museum") as Susan's boyfriend, Derek.

"Monsters vs. Aliens" is directed by Rob Letterman ("Shark Tale") and Conrad Vernon ("Shrek 2"), produced by Lisa Stewart ("I Think I Love My Wife") and co-produced by Jill Hopper and Latifa Ouaou. The film marks the theatrical debut of DreamWorks Animation's Ultimate 3-D, the studio's proprietary production process of authoring its animated films in 3-D from start to finish.

When California girl Susan Murphy is unexpectedly clobbered by a meteor full of outer space gunk, she mysteriously grows to 49 feet, 11 inches tall and is instantly labeled a "monster" named Ginormica. The military jumps into action, and she is captured and held in a secret government compound. The world learns that the military has been quietly rounding up other monsters over the years. This ragtag group consists of the brilliant but insect-headed Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.; the macho half-ape, half-fish The Missing Link; the gelatinous and indestructible B.O.B.; and the 350-foot grub called Insectosaurus. Their confinement time is cut short however, when a mysterious alien robot lands on Earth and begins storming the country.

As a last resort, under the guidance of General W.R. Monger (on a desperate order from The President), the motley crew of Monsters is called into action to combat the aliens and save the world from imminent destruction.

About DreamWorks Animation SKG

DreamWorks Animation is principally devoted to developing and producing computer generated, or CG, animated feature films. With world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced CG filmmaking technology and techniques, DreamWorks Animation makes high quality CG animated films meant for a broad movie-going audience. The Company has theatrically released a total of fifteen animated feature films, including "Antz," "Shrek," "Shrek 2," "Shark Tale," "Madagascar," "Over the Hedge," "Shrek the Third" and "Bee Movie." DreamWorks Animation's newest release, "Kung Fu Panda," opens in U.S. theaters on June 6, 2008.

About Paramount Pictures Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation is a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) , a global entertainment company that produces and distributes filmed entertainment through the Paramount Motion Picture Group. PHE is responsible for the worldwide sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment products on behalf of various parties including: Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, CBS, PBS and Hasbro, and for providing home entertainment fulfillment services for DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This document includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's plans, prospects, strategies, proposals and our beliefs and expectations concerning performance of our current and future releases and anticipated talent, directors and storyline for our upcoming films and other projects, constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry in which we operate and management's beliefs and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological and/or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of the business of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. These risks and uncertainties include: audience acceptance of our films, our dependence on the success of a limited number of releases each year, the increasing cost of producing and marketing feature films, piracy of motion pictures, the effect of rapid technological change or alternative forms of entertainment and our need to protect our proprietary technology and enhance or develop new technology. In addition, due to the uncertainties and risks involved in the development and production of animated feature projects, the release dates for the projects described in this document may be delayed. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our most recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. DreamWorks Animation is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: Jeff.Hare@dreamworks.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080311/LATU005
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.

CONTACT: Jeff Hare of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc., +1-818-695-6055

Web site: http://www.dreamworksanimation.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment