I just added some posters of Astro Boy and When In Rome to the gallery. Check them out!:

A full length Astro Boy trailer has been released and you can view it below:

Kristen Bell loves being funny — but admits it’s “hard” for women to have a sense of humor without being the butt of the joke.

The Heroes actress loves to have a laugh but she finds her comic roles much more challenging than the serious ones.

“I think it’s one of the hardest things, to be a woman and be funny and not be completely and utterly self-deprecating. And for a long time, people have been at odds with accepting that,” she says.

Bell, 29, voices a character in the upcoming movie Astro Boy — a role which she recently revealed has taken her back to her childhood.

“I didn’t know Astro Boy at all before working on this movie, but now I’m immersed and have all the little toys and stuff,” she dished. “I just love the characters. They are so cute.

“The toys are great to play with — even if I am maybe a little too old. I guess I’m just a big kid!”

source:  showbizspy.com

From screenrant.com:

Just got done with the Astro Boy panel at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con, and not surprisingly, the highlight of the show was actress Kristen Bell (Saving Sarah Marshall, Heroes) who was in attendance along with co-star Freddie Highmore, producer Maryann Garger and director David Bowers (Flushed Away) to promote
Astro Boy.

The panel featured a few clips, a new trailer and covered everything from what kind of “Easter eggs” we can expect to see in this modern version of
Astro Boy, to new talk of a Veronica Mars movie. Check it out:

Astro Boy is of course a modern re-telling of the classic manga comic created by Osamu Tezuka in the 1950s. The character has appeared in two classic tv shows in the 60s and 80s and is still an enduring icon worldwide – especially in the Far East, where he is affectionately referred to as “The Japanese Mickey Mouse.”

So, the big question for
Astro Boy director David Bowers was how to take on the challenge of making a “modern” film about such a revered classic character. Said Bower:

“I want people to look at this film and feel the same way people
in the 1950s felt. I want them to love this character for the same reasons.”

Actor
Freddie Highmore (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Spiderwick Chronicles), was under a similar pressure as the voice of
Astro Boy. He stated that while he did a little bit of research on the classic Tv/manga, for this modern retelling he wanted the character to be a creation of his own. Here’s what Highmore had to say about his approach to the role:

“Astro Boy is a human trapped in a robot’s body, and I think that’s something that people can relate to, trying to fit into society – or in Astro Boy’s case, fitting into a family.”

But let’s get to what we REALLY want to talk about:
Kristen Bell. As usual, the lovely actress was witty and engaging, totally working the crowd of Comic-Con admirers. After a brief shoutout to Detroit, Bell talked a bit about her character, Cora, who is a new addition to the
Astro Boy universe:

“She’s kinda sassy, kinda opinionated – she’s got a tough exterior and a soft interior. She’s fun, she’s wonderful.”

Of course
Kristen Bell can’t make a public appearance without sparking talk about
Veronica Mars, the role which helped launch her in the limelight. Fans of the show have been clamoring for a
Veronica Mars feature film ever since the series ended in 2007. When asked whether the project is something she would still be interested in, said Bell:

“F-yes I’ll do a
Veronica Mars movie! Provided I’m not over the hill – and let’s be honest it’s getting close. I know I look young and all…”

She’s joking there, but Bell did get serious and said that the only thing holding back the film is Warner Bros.’ fear that the project is no longer viable.
Veronica Mars fans better start sending bags of Mars Bars to the WB if you want to get your movie.

The
Astro Boy clips shown during the panel included a chase sequence, a small snippet from the climatic robot-on-robot throwdown and the premiere of the final trailer for the film. Some of the animation sequences weren’t quite finished, but all and all the movie looks like it will be good fun at the very least. Bowers also revealed that in addition to some voice work from stars like Nicholas Cage, Donald Sutherland and Nathan Lane, we can expect (voice) cameos from Bill Nighy, Charlize Theron, Matt Lucas (Little Britain USA) and (because no movie is really complete without him), Samuel L. Jackson.

And die hard fans of the original
Astro Boy, never fear: there will be plenty of Easter eggs sprinkled throughout this film just for you guys, including appearances from some very familiar characters. Oh, and by the end of this film, you WILL be seeing
Astro Boy in his classic (non) costume.

Astro Boy opens on October 23, 2009.

D3Publisher announced today that ASTRO BOY: THE VIDEO GAME, based on Imagi Studios’ highly anticipated CG-animated movie, will feature the voice talents of Freddie Highmore and Kristen Bell. Both actors will reprise their onscreen voiced roles of Astro Boy (Highmore), and Cora (Bell) in a video game that will take players on an epic adventure to save Metro City from the clutches of evil. ASTRO BOY: THE VIDEO GAME will be available in North American retail stores for Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, and the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system on October 20, 2009 to coincide with Summit Entertainment’s nationwide domestic release of the movie on October 23, 2009.

“We’re pleased to work with both Freddie Highmore and Kristen Bell on ASTRO BOY: THE VIDEO GAME,” said Alison Quirion, vice president of marketing, D3Publisher. “Their participation adds an even greater level of authenticity to the video game and further immerses players in the Astro Boy universe.”

Erin Corbett, president of Imagi Studios U.S. and chief marketing officer worldwide, said: “ASTRO BOY: THE VIDEO GAME is a prime representation of the deep and wide-ranging partnerships we have lined up in all major licensing and promotional partner categories. We are pleased to be able to expand the Astro Boy universe along with the fan experience through the film’s video game companion.”

In ASTRO BOY: THE VIDEO GAME, players become the iconic hero, Astro Boy, and take to the streets and skies on an epic adventure to save Metro City from the clutches of the evil President Stone and his robot army. Utilizing Astro’s entire arsenal of iconic weapons and abilities–Finger Lasers, Arm Cannon, Butt Machine Guns and Drill Attacks, players will battle hordes of robot enemies and colossal bosses including some never-before-seen enemies across Metro City and the mysterious Surface. Using an intuitive combat system that adds depth to gameplay, players will experience classic platform action and exhilarating flight combat levels as they use Astro’s unique rocket boosters to hover, avoid enemies and zip out of the way of danger. ASTRO BOY: THE VIDEO GAME offers numerous unlockable and collectible elements that include exclusive art work, different versions of Astro Boy and more, as players live the story solo or side by side with a friend in 2 player co-op mode on Wii and the PlayStation 2 system.

ASTRO BOY: THE VIDEO GAME for Wii, PlayStation 2 system and PSP system is rated “E10+” (Everyone 10 and up – Fantasy Violence) and is under development by High Voltage Software. The Nintendo DS version is rated “E” (Everyone – Fantasy Violence) and is under development by Art Co. Ltd.

For more information on ASTRO BOY: THE VIDEO GAME, including game features, screenshots, and videos, please visit: www.AstroBoytheVideogame.com.

She played the hottie that got tagged by the nerd in Fan Boys to the somewhat bad ass villain in Heroes. Kristen Bell has already made her mark in comic geek utopia with out truly being in a ComicBookMovie. Until now.

Kristen Bell will lend her voice in “Astro Boy“, which will be a 3-D movie from Imagi Studios. Bell voices a human roll opposite the film’s title roll of our robot hero, but she says even though she doesn’t have the lead, her character can stand on there own two feet.

“I play Cora, who is a girl who befriends Astro when he comes down from Metro City onto the surface of Earth,” Bell told Sci Fi Wire. “She runs a little kind of like Peter Pan group of kids. She’s pretty tough, pretty sassy.”

This is Kristen’s first time outing with an “
Astro Boy” material, but don’t worry she has had plenty of time to get acquainted with the
Astro Boy source material.

“I didn’t know ‘Astro Boy’ at all, but now I’m immersed and have all the little toys and stuff,” she states.

Kristen Bell, being reported, as some fans wanting to see her in a Batman film has gotten the chance of being able to watch a pretty big chunk of “
Astro Boy” already. Off course she has nothing but good things to say about it.

“It looks amazing,” Bell states. “To be involved in the process is really exciting, because you see the layers that they put on, and you see when they don’t have the 3-D involved and then when they do, and you see when it’s just penciled out. It was a really interesting process.”

Bell also enjoyed the voice recording process as well.

“Sometimes when another character comes in and records and they like something they have done, you have to match it or be at a comparable state of mind in the scene, because you don’t record with other people.” “Overall, it was a really easy, fun process.”

source:  comicbookmovie.com