Illumination Entertainment has announced that actors Scarlett Johansson, Reese Witherspoon and Seth MacFarlane will star in its upcoming animated film “Sing.” Matthew McConaughey has been roped in to play the lead role.

McConaughey stars as Buster Moon, a koala bear who decides to produce the world’s greatest singing competition. Johansson will voice punk rock porcupine, Ash, while Witherspoon is Rosita, an overtaxed mother with 25 piglets and MacFarlane is Mike, a con artist mouse.

McConaughey has said to USA Today that his character Buster is “a salesman and a survivor, eternally optimistic and someone who will do anything to make sure ‘the show goes on.’"

“Sing” follows the life of Moon who has fallen on hard times. He will produce the world’s greatest singing competition in an attempt to regain his former glory. The film is written and directed by Garth Jennings, who is best known for films such as “Son of Rambow” and “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy are producing the project.

The animated film features more than 85 songs from the 1940s to the present, according to Meledandri. “When you start to see these animals sing, it’s absolutely magical and hysterical,” he said as quoted by USA Today.

This is the latest animated film to be released by Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures. The studio has previously worked on “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax,” “Despicable Me,” and “Minions.”

The film also stars John C. Reilly, Tori Kelly and Taron Egerton.

“Sing” will hit theatres on Dec. 21, 2016.

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