It’s a bit strange that Albert Brooks’s most notable role of the 00’s was a cartoon fish, but let’s roll with it. In what Deadline is calling “a fat deal,” Brooks has agreed to reprise his role as neurotic clownfish father Marlin in Finding Nemo 2, Pixar’s sequel to its undersea 2003 hit. Andrew Stanton, director of the original film, and Ellen Degeneres, who voiced Dory, were already back on board for the flick. Stanton is coming off his first live action film, last year’s disappointment John Carter, while Degeneres has experienced a terrific career resurgence since Finding Nemo. Brooks, too, has been revitalized in recent years, playing scarily against type as the villain in Drive, being one of the best parts of This is 40, and publishing his book 2030: The Real Story of What Happens to America.
I have no idea what Finding Nemo 2 will be about. Presumably, Nemo will have to be found. Again. Losing him more than once just sort of makes his dad look careless. Pixar’s gotta keep that sequelized money train rolling, though.