EXCLUSIVE: Celine Dion will perform original songs written and composed by Paul McCartney for the upcoming 3D animated feature High in the Clouds, adapted from his children’s novel, with the soundtrack to be released worldwide by Universal Music Group.
Dion already has been announced as member of the voice cast topped by Himesh Patel and Hannah Waddingham and also featuring McCartney, Idris Elba, Lionel Richie, Ringo Starr and Jimmy Fallon, among many others.
Waddingham, Patel and McCartney also will lend their voices to original musical performances throughout the picture.
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High in the Clouds follows the adventures of teenage squirrel Wirral (Patel) as he accidentally sparks a revolution against Gretsch (Waddingham), the bossy diva-owl who has banned all music from his town, and embarks on an extraordinary journey to set music free. Dion voices Wirral’s mother, Sugartail.
Up Oscar winner Michael Giacchino, who also worked on Ratatouille, Inside Out, Coco, Klara and the Sun and many others, has composed the original score based on McCartney themes.
News that Dion is recording the original songs comes just 10 days after “The Power of Love” singer completed the first of her comeback concert residency in Paris, which drew some 550,000 spectators across 16 shows.
It was Dion’s first major concert program since being forced to abandon her Courage World Tour in 2020 due to the pandemic, followed by health struggles.
McCartney posted about his joy at seeing Dion back on the concert circuit on social media back in September.
“It’s been so great to see the amazing reaction to Céline’s comeback in Paris. There’s so much love out there for her,” he wrote.
“I’m so excited that she’s part of our High in the Clouds film. I’ve just been listening to some of her parts, and I’m blown away by it. Wow, what a talent. We are very lucky to have her as part of the team. Can’t wait to share it with the world.”
High in the Clouds is adapted from McCartney’s 2005 novel, co-written with Philip Ardagh and illustrated by Geoff Dunbar. An earlier iteration of the animated film dating back to 2015 saw the Beatles star McCartney collaborate briefly with Lady Gaga on one of the tracks.
The picture is directed by animation filmmaker Toby Genkel (The Amazing Maurice) from a screenplay by Oscar winner Jon Crocker (Paddington 2), with production design by Patrick Hanenberger (Rise of the Guardians, The Lego Movie 2).
The film is produced by McCartney (MPL Communications), Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne (Unique Features), and by Sidonie Dumas, Nicolas Atlan, and Terry Kalagian for Gaumont, in association with MPL Communications, Michele Anthony and David Blackman for Polygram Entertainment, Lemoko Investments, Sky, and James L. Nederlander Productions.
Award-winning Gaumont Animation is producing the feature and partnering with the team at 88 Pictures (The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday, Spirit Untamed), which is handling key animation elements of the film.
Gaumont will present an exclusive work-in-progress screening of High in the Clouds during the upcoming American Film Market (AFM).
The film already has been sold in major territories to UK (Sky UK Ltd.), German-speaking territories (Constantin Film), Eastern Europe (Vertical/Monolith/AQS), Latin America (Imagem), CIS (Mint Films), Middle East (Four Star), South-East Asia/Taiwan/HK (A Really Good Film), Greece (Tanweer), Portugal (Cinemundo), Israel (Lev), Baltics (Acme), South Africa (Sun)
CAA Media Finance is handling North America