Burton casts 'Frankenweenie'

(AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON)

Alice in Wonderland director Tim Burton is re-teaming with some favorite actors for his stop-motion animated feature film Frankenweenie in 3D, due in theaters March 9, 2012.

Four actors who previously worked with the director - Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Landau, and Martin Short - will rejoin him on this project providing the voices, confirmed entertainment website TheWrap.

Ryder starred in Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice; O'Hara appeared in Beetlejuice and supplied Sally's voice in The Nightmare Before Christmas; Short appeared in Mars Attacks; and Landau won an Oscar for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood.

The story, based on a film short by Burton from 1984, is described as a horror comedy centered on a young boy who makes monster movies and tries to bring his dog Sparky back to life after he has been hit by a car. But the dog's Frankenstein-like look frightens the neighborhood.

O'Hara and Short will voice five characters each. Casting of the lead role of the boy Victor has not been announced.

Ryder will appear in Black Swan by Darren Aronofsky which just played the Toronto Film Festival to critical acclaim. She also co-stars with Kevin James and Vince Vaughn in Ron Howard's The Dilemma.

The Frankenweenie screenplay is by John August who wrote Charlie's Angels, Big Fish and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Burton is in development on producing Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter in pre-production, as well as Dark Shadows, Maleficent, Mai the Psychic Girl, and Monsterpocalypse.

RC