Via THR, Sing 2 has added musicians Bono, Pharrell Williams, and Halsey to its cast as well as actors Bobby Cannavale, Letitia Wright, and comedians Eric Andre and Chelsea Peretti to its growing cast. It’s a slew of talent that can only add to the sequel to the 2016 jukebox musical.  The first Sing was successful, nominated for 2 golden globes, and included a plethora of voice talent. Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton, Seth MacFarlane, Tori Kelly and Nick Kroll are all set to reprise their roles for the sequel. 

Per Universal, the sequel follows “Buster Moon(McConaughey) and his cast of underdogs push their talents beyond their local theater, hoping for a shot to perform at the most prestigious venue in the entertainment capital of the world: The Crystal Tower Theater. 

They’ll first have to impress the powerful and egotistical entertainment mogul-wolf Jimmy Crystal(Cannavale) and prove that they are worthy of his stage. Crystal will let them perform, if they convince the world’s most reclusive rock legend, lion Clay Calloway(Bono) out of self-imposed seclusion. 

Williams plays Alfonso, an elephant ice-cream-truck owner who becomes the first crush of shy elephant Meena(Kelly). Halsey voices Jimmy Crystal’s teenage daughter, Porsche;  Wright plays a streetwise feline dancer; Andre plays a self-important yak; and Peretti voices Jimmy Crystal’s haughty canine assistant and talent scout.” 

The story sounds fun and like it will take its main demographic, younger audiences, on an adventure through the music world. With the cast added as well, with the exception of Bono and Pharrell, every cast member has done some sort of voice over work in the past. Though this franchise is certainly focused on A-List talent, it always makes an animated production better with actual voice actors. 

Universal’s animation studio Illumination has found most of its success with the Despicable Me franchise, but this is their second attempt at a sequel that is not minion related. 

Secret Life of Pets 2 came out last year to mixed reviews as well as some recasting drama due to sexual misconduct from the lead. However, the cast is returning for Sing 2 without a hitch and there are sure to be more musical numbers that all audiences can tap their feet to. 

Writer and director Gareth Jennings is returning to helm the sequel, and with production possible with little contact between the actors, the film will most likely be on schedule after its initial delay. 

Sing 2 is set to hit theaters on December 22, 2021.