1 February 2008 - 10:29CRUZ CONTROL IN PLACE FOR BRUCKHEIMER’S “G-FORCE”

Oscar-nominated Spanish actress Penelope Cruz will have her animation debut as the voice of smart guinea pig Juarez in producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s G-Force, The Hollywood Reporter said Monday.

Combinining live action and computer animation (the animals are animated), the feature film will be released by Walt Disney Productions in May 2009.

Already signed to the voice cast are Nicolas Cage (Speckles), Steve Buscemi (Bucky) and Tracy Morgan (Blater). The live-action human actors include Bill Nighy and Will Arnett.

G-Force also marks the directorial debut of visual effects man Hoyt Yeatman, who won an Oscar for his work on The Abyss.

In the film, a group of extremely intelligent animals are employed by a government agency trying to stop an evil billionaire from taking over the world.

The story revolves around a group of ultra-intelligent animal commandos who work for a government agency trying to prevent an evil billionaire from taking over the world.

Cruz was nominated for a best actress Oscar for her role in 2006’s Volver. Her other films include Vanilla Sky, Sahara, Blow, Gothika and Woman on Top.

Upcoming Cruz movies include Elegy and Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Yeatman and Bruckheimer’s previous collaborations are the live-action The Rock, Con Air, Armageddon and Kangaroo Jack.