Jonathan Winters Is Papa Smurf?

By our guest blogger, Matt Jussim

84-year-old acting veteran Jonathan Winters is tipped to voice Papa Smurf in the upcoming live-action/CGI "Smurfs" movie.

According to UGO: Our well-placed source--we'll call him Deep Mushroom--has the word on who has been cast to voice Papa Smurf. That man is Jonathan Winters. The 84-year-old Winters hasn't been much in the public eye lately, but those who know their comedy history know he is a legend.

Winters has appeared on Jonny Carson, “Mork and Mindy” and also in the satitical comedies of the 1960s “It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World” and “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming!” Also, Winters voiced various characters on the original 1981 "Smurfs" show.

The information comes soon after a casting call sheet hit Spoiler TV revealing a little bit about the plot.  Specifically, the Smurfs end up in our human world, where a first-time expectant mother with an overworked husband finds her house overrun by the miniature blue creatures.

Either way, this bit of news is something promising for the film. Chances are it will be a run-of-the-mill, family-friendly, no nonsense adaptation, but the addition of Winters brings some class to the project. Maybe the presence of such a veteran will elevate the status of everyone else they bring on board.

Also, the Smurfs actually look pretty good based on the picture that was leaked a couple weeks ago. I hope this adaptation will turn out better than I anticipate, because “The Smurfs” were such a memorable cartoon for me, and seeing them on the big screen would be awesome.

“The Smurfs” will be released July 29, 2011.