Pixar's new animated movie, Soul, has a multiracial cast including singers, comedians and even some Hollywood newcomers. Like many Pixar classics, the voice actors for the metaphysical movie are multitalented, bringing a variety of skills to the screen. So who are the faces behind the colorful characters?
Soul, set to premiere Dec. 25 on Disney+, has received widespread critical acclaim for its touching story and soundtrack that is both electronic and jazz-infused, composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross with Jon Batiste on jazz arrangements. The film is set to make history as the first Pixar movie with a Black lead and mostly Black characters, which is a major milestone in the company's efforts to become more diverse. The movie embraces Black culture and artists, casting Hollywood star Jamie Foxx alongside jazz drummer Questlove.
Soul follows the journey of Joe Gardner (Foxx), an aspiring jazz musician and music teacher, as he falls into the afterlife. In one of Pixar's most ephemeral stories, Joe arrives in "The Great Beyond" right after he gets his big break into the jazz music scene. Having just received the opportunity of a lifetime, Joe jumps ship and arrives in "The Great Before," a kind of limbo where souls wait to be transferred into newborn babies. There he meets 22, an indifferent soul who is having trouble discovering her spark. Together, they escape to Earth and get a new perspective on life.
Jamie Foxx As Joe Gardner
Soul's protagonist Joe Gardner is voiced by Annie, the second film adaptation of the Broadway musical.
Tina Fey As 22
Comedian Tina Fey, known for her work on Mean Girls, voices 22, a soul with a cynical view of life. Fey's 22 has spent decades trying to find ion with no success, unable to escape from the Great Before and move on and inhabit a newborn. As a comedian, Fey is bound to bring some lightheartedness and wit to the role.
Phylicia Rashad As Libba Gardner
Phylicia Rashad, famous for her role on Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. In Soul, Rashad again assumes a domestic part, voicing Libba Gardner, Joe's mother. Rashad's energy and charisma are sure to steal scenes.
Daveed Diggs As Paul
Daveed Diggs of The Little Mermaid.
Angela Bassett As Dorothea Williams
Television and film actress Angela Bassett voices Dorothea Williams, a renowned jazz musician and saxophonist. Bassett started her acting career early, first appearing in a minor role on The Cosby Show in 1984. Bassett has since appeared as Ramonda in 9-1-1.
Questlove As Curly
Real-life jazz musician and drummer with the Roots, Parks and Recreation.
Graham Norton As Moonwind
Graham Norton, an Irish comic known in the United Kingdom for his long-running talk show series, The Graham Norton Show, voices Moonwind. Not much is known about Norton's character aside from the actor's short description. Norton described Moonwind on Twitter as "a spiritual sign twirler."
Rachel House As Terry
Rachel House, a New Zealander best known for her role as Gramma Tala in Thor: Ragnarok and TV shows Wrecked, Sherwood and The New Legends of Monkey.
Richard Ayoade As Counselor Jerry
English comedian Richard Ayoade voices Jerry in Soul, an existential counselor in the Great Before. Ayoade's early work includes British workplace comedy The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part.
Soul ing Characters
Donnell Rawlings as Dez — Rawling, who plays one of Joe's friends in Soul, is a stand-up comic known on Comedy Central and Netflix. He also recently appeared in the movies Hollyweed and The Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.
June Squibb as Gerel — Squibb is an Oscar-nominated theater and film actress known for her role in the movie About Schmidt. She also held ing roles in several 1990s movies.
Esther Chae as Miho — Chae has appeared in TV shows ER.
Cora Champommier as Connie — Champommier will make her entree into Hollywood with her role in Soul.
Margo Hall as Melba — Hall is a theater actress who has also appeared in the films Blindspotting and All Day and A Night.
Rhodessa Jones as Lulu — Jones has appeared in the short films Ay Jose! and Out of Order, as well as Nocturnal Jake.
Peggy Flood as Marge — Flood is primarily a voice actress also known for her roles in movies Deja Vu, The Mist and Shooter.
Jeannie Tirado as Principal Arroyo — Tirado is a voice actress known for her roles in Doom Eternal.
Dorian Lockett as Dorian — Lockett has voiced characters in several sports video games and has also appeared in TV shows The Walking Dead and 13 Reasons Why.
Elisapie Isaac as Miali — Isaac is known for the animated movie The Legend of Sarila.
Marcus Shelby as Ray Gardner — Shelby is a composer who will be making his first foray into acting with Soul.
Avery Kidd Waddell as Muhammed Ali — Waddell has voiced roles in dozens of video games, in addition to roles in comedic movies The New Guy and Questions.
Ochuwa Oghie as Dancerstar — Oghie was a voice actress in Black Panther and has also held ing roles in TV show Grey's Anatomy and film Touch.
Cathy Cavadini as Dreamerwind — Cavadini is a well-versed voice actress known for her role as Blossom in Cartoon Network's The Powerpuff Girls, who can also be heard in animated TV shows Kidd Video and Jem, and the movie series American Tail.
Ronnie Del Carmen as Windstar — Del Carmen is a Pixar careerist who worked on the story for animated hits Inside Out.
Alice Braga as a soul counselor in the Great Before — Braga is a Brazilian actress best known in the United States for her roles in the films The Suicide Squad in 2021.
Wes Studi as a soul counselor in the Great Before — Studi is a longtime Hollywood star, appearing in the Avatar.
Fortune Feimster as a soul counselor in the Great Before — Feimster is a stand-up comic who has appeared on Conan and he Mindy Project and Champions.
Zenobia Shroff as a soul counselor in the Great Before — Shroff, who got her start in Mumbai, has since achieved international recognition with her roles in the movies Ms. Marvel.
Sakina Jaffrey as a doctor — Jaffrey is a New York born actress known for TV shows Mr. Robot.
Calum Grant as a hedge fund manager — Grant has appeared in disaster movies Ever Since the World Ended and San Andreas.
Laura Mooney as a therapy cat lady — Mooney will make her entree into Hollywood with her role in Soul.
Doris Burke as a basketball announcer — Burke is a voice actor primarily known for her work in a series of basketball-based video games.
Jason Pace as a stockbroker — Pace is a prolific voice actor who has held roles in Hollywood hits Black Panther, Finding Dory.
Soul debuts on Disney+ on Friday, December 25th.
