Football Head is returning to a television screen near you. Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie was confirmed as a two-hour TV film back in March, and now details on the plot and characters have surfaced as well.
According to Variety, Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie -- which airs on Nickelodeon in 2017 -- picks up where the original series left off in 2004. The report states the reboot (or should we say sequel?) will “resolve unanswered questions and plotlines” by addressing the whereabouts of Arnold’s missing parents.
Incredibly, a number of original Hey Arnold! voice actors will return for The Jungle Movie, including Francesca Marie Smith as Helga; Anndi McAfee as Phoebe; Justin Shenkarow as Harold; Olivia Hack as Rhonda; Nika Futterman as Olga; Dan Butler as Mr. Simmons; The Simpsons’ Dan Castellaneta as Grandpa; Tress MacNeille as Grandma; Antoinette Stella as Stella; Carlos Alazraqui as Eduardo; Dom Irrera as Ernie; Maurice LaMarche as Bob Pataki; Kath Soucie as Miriam; Danielle Judovits as Big Patty; Danny Cooksey as Stoop Kid; Jim Belushi as Coach Wittenberg and Craig Bartlett as Miles.
Some of the voice actors appear to have outgrown their roles, however, as major characters such as Gerald, Eugene, Stinky and Arnold himself will be voiced by new players. Lane Toran and Jamil Smith, the original voices of Arnold and Gerald, respectively, will lend their voices to other roles, however.
The Jungle Movie managed to bag a Hollywood star in the casting process. Alfred Molina joins as antagonist Lasombra, “an infamous river pirate operating from a secret compound in the jungles of San Lorenzo.” Not sure what he has to do with a bunch of kids running around a New York-inspired city, but okay!
Hey Arnold! series creator Craig Bartlett is back as the writer and executive producer. With him penning the script, Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie should be in good hands. Stay tuned for updates.
