CinemaCon 2023: Rihanna joins Paramount’s The Smurfs Movie as Smurfette – “I got to show up in my pajamas in my third trimester and play a little blue badass”

Rihanna made a surprise appearance at CinemaCon to announce that she will be playing Smurfette.

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

April 28, 2023 - 3:15 PM IST

On Thursday, Rihanna made a surprise appearance at CinemaCon 2023 to announce that she has officially joined the cast of Paramount’s upcoming Smurfs film. The Grammy winning singer joins the animated feature to voice the character of Smurfette. She will also serve as producer, write and perform new original songs for the untitled project. "I got to play a part and just imagine. I got to just be myself," Rihanna said at CinemaCon's Paramount panel on Thursday.

CinemaCon 2023: Rihanna joins Paramount’s The Smurfs Movie as Smurfette – “I got to show up in my pajamas in my third trimester and play a little blue badass”

"I got to show up in my pajamas in my third trimester and play a little blue badass." The Anti singer is expecting her second child with partner A$AP Rocky after welcoming a son last May. Hopefully the film will give her "a little bit of cool points" with her children someday, she added.

"I can't wait for you guys to see how [Smurfette has] been reimagined," Rihanna said, calling animation a "fun journey." She added, "The entire movie is going to be so fun. It's so thrilling." Rihanna previously lent her voice to the 2015 animated feature Home.

"On behalf of our studio and our creative partners, we couldn't be more excited to have found our Smurfette in one of the most beloved stars in the world," Brian Robbins, president and CEO of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon, and Ramsey Naito, president of animation for Paramount and Nickelodeon, said in a statement.

"With Rihanna's singular creative appeal and musical talents, there is an enormous opportunity to elevate the cultural touchstone of The Smurfs universe in a way that's never been done before." According to Deadline, the comedic musical adventure sets out to answer one of life’s biggest questions: What is a Smurf? The Chris Miller-directed movie comes out on February 14, 2025.

The film is co-directed by Matt Landon, written by Pam Brady who wrote the script inspired by characters and works of Peyo. Producers also include Ryan Harris, Laurence “Jay” Brown and Tyran “Ty-Ty” Smith.

Also Read: Rihanna to perform Black Panther: Wakanda Forever song ‘Lift Me Up’ at the 2023 Oscars