Fred Willard Is WALL-E’s First Live Action Character

Way back at Comic Con this summer, Andrew Stanton, WALL-E director confirmed that there would be a live action element to the upcoming Pixar film. At the time, Stanton said, “We’re not doing anything like Happy Feet. There is a live action element involved but that’s the most I can say.”

The fact he assured us that the film’s live action element wouldn’t be like happy feet was a good thing and we all got very excited. Last month, we were told by actor Jeff Garlin that he is the only animated character that speaks in the film.

“A lot of the film is silent and they’re robots so they make noises and such and there’s sound but I’m one of the only characters that speak – not one of them – I am the only animated character that speaks,” Garlin said. “There’s another character but I can’t talk about it. But I’m the only animated character that speaks.”

I wondered for a while what the live action element of the film could entail and it seems I’ll finally get my answer. Yep, the live action element of WALL-E is (drum roll) Fred Willard!

Willard apparently plays Shelby Forthright, the CEO of the Buy N Large corporation. Fred Willard has said

“[Buy N Large] practically owns everything in the world. It’s kind of a take off on Wal Mart.”

“I appear on a TV monitor but I’m more than a voice. Jeff Garlin is a voice but people are saying, ‘Oh, you’re a voice.’ No, I actually appear. People will say, ‘Oh, that’s Fred Willard.’”

It’s reported Willard has already recorded his footage from the film, which hits theatres in June 2008.

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