Lea Salonga, H.E.R., and Liza Soberano lead voice cast for DreamWorks animation 'Forgotten Island'

November 1 ------ The voice cast for the DreamWorks animation "Forgotten Island" is out! Lea Salonga, H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Manny Jacinto, Dave Franco, and Jenny Slate were announced as the stars of the upcoming action-adventure comedy, which is scheduled for release on Sept. 25, 2026.

To be released under Universal Pictures and directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, the film follows lifelong best friends Jo (voiced by H.E.R.) and Raissa (portrayed by Soberano) as they navigate the enchanting yet perilous world of Nakali, an island of forgotten memories. Stranded in this fantastical place, they realize that their only way back home may require sacrificing a lifetime of cherished memories and emotions. Mark Swift produced the film.

"Forgotten Island" is the third collaboration between Crawford and Swift, who both received nominations for Academy Awards, BAFTAs, and Golden Globes for their work on "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish," according to Deadline.com, a popular entertainment site.

The same report added that this film will also mark Mercado's directorial debut. He previously served as the co-director on "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" and as the head of story for Crawford on "The Croods: A New Age." The score for the film will be composed by Nathan Matthew David, known for his work on "Joy Ride" and "The Brothers Sun."

Lea most recently starred in Stephen Sondheim’s "Old Friends" on Broadway, a role she previously performed on the West End. She also starred in and produced "Here Lies Love" on Broadway. Salonga is best known for her Tony Award-winning performance in "Miss Saigon" and has received several prestigious accolades, including the Olivier Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, and Theater World Award. Additionally, she was honored with the Time100 Impact Award from "Time" magazine and the Gold Legend Award from Gold House.

She is widely recognized for her singing roles as Princess Jasmine in "Aladdin" and Fa Mulan in "Mulan" and "Mulan II". Her other credits include appearances in HBO Max’s "Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin", Sony’s "Yellow Rose", as well as voice roles in Netflix’s "Centaurworld" and FX’s "Little Demon". Amplified Entertainment represents her.

H.E.R. is a five-time winner of prestigious awards, including Grammy, Oscar, and Emmy accolades. She won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 2021 for "Fight for You" from the film "Judas and the Black Messiah". In 2023, she made her acting debut in the musical adaptation of "The Color Purple". H.E.R. is represented by Lighthouse Management + Media, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), and Hertz Lichtenstein Young & Polk.

Liza made her Hollywood feature film debut in Focus Features’ "Lisa Frankenstein" and appeared in the romantic comedy "My Ex and Whys" (2017) and the drama series "Alone/Together" (2019). Additionally, she lends her voice to the title character in Netflix’s animated series "Trese". Liza is represented by Verve, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.

Source: mb.com.ph