Rob Brydon, Diane Morgan and Jamie Demetriou are to play aliens in an upcoming animated comedy film from the studio behind Despicable Me and The Super Mario Bros movie.

Brett Goldstein also features in Not Alone, which stars Timothée Chalamet and Selena Gomez and counts Richard Curtis among its executive producers.

Chalamet voices Joe in the sci-fi feature, an ‘introverted rocket mechanic who lives a quiet life alone’, while Gomez, who has recently been filming the latest season of Only Murders In The Building in London, plays Fran, a ‘brilliant astro-botanist who is developing the world’s first-ever plant-fueled rocket’.

Announced at the Annecy Animation Festival in France, the film has the synopsis: 'When Joe and Fran are brought together to prepare for the inaugural launch of this revolutionary rocket, there are immediate sparks, but neither is particularly adept at romance'

'Life becomes more complicated when three aliens — tiny, unruly and adorable — take refuge in Joe’s home. Dunk, Welly and Shirm are on the interplanetary run from a zealous-yet-inept officer of the law named Zandro (played by Goldstein). The aliens determine that Fran’s rocket could provide their means of getting back home to safety.'

Brydon previously voiced an alien in the BBC's 2022 adaptation of Julia Donaldson's children's book The Smeds And The Smoos, while Morgan is also venturing into sci-fi in her upcoming sitcom for the corporation, Ann Droid, in which she plays a domestic robot. Goldstein co-wrote and took the title role in the 2015 superhero film SuperBob.

Directed by Eric Guillon, Claire Dodgson and Jonathan Del Val, who have all worked extensively for the Illumination studio across the sprawling Minions franchise, the film's supporting cast includes The West Wing's Alison Janney and Fargo's Lamorne Morris.

Set to be released in cinemas on April 16 next year, the film is produced by Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and executive produced by Curtis, Joy Poirel and David Distenfeld.

Wonka and Marty Supreme star Chalamet revealed on Theo Von's podcast in 2024 that Brett Goldstein was his best friend growing up in New York. But it wasn't that Brett Goldstein.

- by Jay Richardson