Julia Roberts to star in “Charlotte’s Web”

Despite rumors that she was going to take off 5 years after the birth of her twins, Julia Roberts has signed on to voice the spider Charlotte in the new animated version of "Charlotte’s Web."  Nevermind that the world really doesn’t need ANOTHER version of Charlotte’s Web (the 1973 classic is so cheesily awesome- remember that trippy carnival scene with Templeton the rat voiced by Paul "Hollywood Squares"Lynde?).  In any case, doing a voiceover is a lot less work than a live action film will probably be a lot easier on the new mom.  Hell, she could breastfeed and do the voiceover at the same time if she really needed!

Other stand-out voice actors from the ‘73 version are… Debbie Reynolds as Charlotte, Danny Bonaduce as Avery, Agnes Moorehead (Endora on "Bewitched") as the Goose, Henry Gibson ("Laugh-In") as Wilbur .  Charles Nelson Reilly was also in it (not sure of the character). 

The 2006 cast will feature… Dakota Fanniny as Fern, Andre 3000 of OutKast as Elwyn, Kathy Bates as Bitsy, Steve Buscemi as Templeton (oh god, I love Steve Buscemi but that is going to be one annoying rat!), Cedric the Entertainer as Golly, Thomas Haden Church ("Sideways") as Brooks, John Cleese as Samuel, and Oprah Winfrey as Gussy.

Incidentally, when I was in junior high, my friend Sara Hosey and I wrote a musical version called "Charlotte AND Web" in which the Web was its own snarky character and made fun of everyone.  Ah, it was a sign of things to come.

Source: Hello!