Thomas Haden Church Lends Voice to Film

NEW YORK (AP) -- Thomas Haden Church's re-emergence with "Sideways" has already led to the plum role of the villain in "Spider-Man 3," but the actor is also lending his voice to a new star-studded adaptation of E.B. White's "Charlotte's Web."

Church, who received an Oscar nomination for "Sideways," will voice Brooks, one of two dimwitted crows with Andre Benjamin (Outkast's Andre 3000) as the other. Julia Roberts will voice Charlotte with a cast that also includes Robert Redford, Oprah Winfrey and John Cleese.

"I really enjoyed the script," Church says in the April issue of Texas Monthly magazine. "With a kids' film, you're always like, Is this gonna to be 'Iron Giant,' or is it going to be 'Princess Diaries 2?'"

The live action and computer graphic animated film is currently shooting in Australia. While the other stars will be voicing animated characters, Dakota Fanning will appear in person playing Fern. It is being produced by Jordan Kerner, who produced both "George of Jungle" movies, which co-starred Church. "Jordan really considered it a big favor for me to come back and do the sequel (to `George and the Jungle'), and he rewarded me by giving me `Charlotte's Web,'" Church told the magazine.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Church will play the villain in "Spider-Man 3," though it was not said which nemesis he would be bringing to life. It is scheduled to begin filming next year and be released in May 2007.

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