Update: The footage has been removed, but below you can check out the teaser poster for the film debuted on Yahoo.
So, watch this while you can because it will likely get yanked soon enough, but this leak comes from a pretty strange place.
The folks over at Cartoon Brew have stumbled across the trailer for the animated “The Lorax” at the Chinese video site. How it wound up there we’ll let the detectives sort out, and we’re not going to comment on a spot that is clearly unfinished as the latter half features many scenes waiting for effects, but we will say the overall vibe isn’t too bad and while we’d rather everyone just leave Dr. Seuss‘ books to our childhoods, this approach seems respectful. And certainly, the production is boasting some strong talent on both sides of the camera.
The film is being co-directed by Chris Renaud (”Despicable Me”) and Ken Daurio (who co-wrote scripts for both this and “Horton Hears A Who”) with a voice cast that includes Taylor Swift, Danny DeVito, Zac Efron, Ed Helms, Rob Riggle and Betty White. The environmental fable will find Efron playing a boy who befriends The Lorax (named Ted, Seuss’ real name); with White, as his grandmother; Helms as the villainous Once-ler; Riggle as O’Hare, another industrialist who tries to market cans of fresh air, and Swift as Audrey, the high school age love interest.
“The Lorax” is set for a March 2, 2012 release. Get an incomplete taste below.