Teen Titans Go! To the Movies will be arriving in theatres later this month and will be introducing a ton of talented voice actors to the already expert cast.
Though Greg Cipes, Scott Menville, Khary Payton, Tara Strong, and Hynden Walch will all be reprising their roles as the titular teens the film will also debut Will Arnett as Slade, Nicholas Cage as Superman, Halsey as Wonder Woman, Jimmy Kimmel as Batman, and finally Kristen Bell who will be playing an entirely new character - one who hasn't even appeared in the comics.
All we know about Bell's mysterious new character so far is that she is a popular uperhero film director and based on her last name, that being Wilson (as well as simple rhyming and her trademarked white hair), she's somehow related to Arnett's character - the Titans' arch-enemy, Slade.
Here's what Bell told Fortress of Solitude about what drew her to the role:
I love voicing animated characters. It’s my favourite part of being an actor. Creating something from nothing before it’s even drawn and using only my voice is challenging and stimulating.
I was also excited by the fact that I would be a voicing a character new to the Teen Titans universe, and I love that Jade is a self-assured, egotistical, power-hungry director – and a badass, powerful female character.
Bell is of course not unfamiliar with voice acting as she played the lead role in Disney's Frozen.
When asked of how she and the film's directors decided upon Jade's personality and characterisation, Bell had this to say:
Before I began work on the film, [directors] Peter [Rida Michail] and Aaron [Horvath] discussed with me what they wanted from the character and where she fit in the story. That context was very helpful. It answered some of my questions, like, “Do you want Jade to be abrasive? Do you need her to be more comforting because the Teen Titans lean on her in the third act?” All those things are important.
We ultimately leaned into Jade being a bossy, powerful, passionate loudmouth. We played around with how much we could push those traits, while still making her feel semi-realistic. But since this is an animated feature, there was a lot of fun to be had in playing with Jade’s extremes. That worked well for the film, because the Teen Titans franchise is known for being funny, quippy, irreverent and sassy – just like Jade.
And on what audiences should expect from the upcoming animated film:
They’re going to experience a fun and wild ride. This film presents a much bigger world than you see on the Teen Titans TV show. It’s a complete, three-hundred-and-sixty-degrees feel, which immerses you in this world and the characters you love. Audiences will love how the Teen Titans go out of their comfort zone and out of their depth.
What do you think about Bell's comments? Are you excited to see Jade on-screen once Teen Titans Go! To The Movies releases on the 26th of July?
Suffering from a large case of FOMO, Robin leads the beloved team of young heroes are on a mission to become a part of the ever growing catalogue of superhero-centric films currently taking the industry by storm - though the Titans are sidetracked by the arrival of Slade, a villain determined to take over the world!
Teen Titans Go! To The Movies arrives in theatres on July 26th.