Rihanna made a surprise appearance at CinemaCon Day Four in Las Vegas on Thursday to announce she will voice Smurfette in Paramount’s The Smurfs Movie.
The Lift Me Up hitmaker, 35, who is expecting her second child with rapper A$AP Rocky, strolled onto the stage inside Caesar’s Palace and made a fashion statement wearing a stonewash, denim caped dress along with matching thigh-high boots.
She added a sparkling, diamond and sapphire necklace along with smaller, dainty earrings that glittered underneath the bright stage lights.
After the Grammy winner revealed she will lend her voice to the character of Smurfette in the live-action film, the performer humorously stated, per Variety, ‘I tried to get the Papa Smurf role but it didn’t work out.’
Rihanna will not only star in the project, but will also be a producer, as well as writing and recording original songs for the movie, which is slated to release in theaters later in February 2025.
Surprise! Rihanna, 35, made a surprise appearance at CinemaCon Day Four in Las Vegas on Thursday to announce she will voice Smurfette in Paramount’s upcoming The Smurfs Movie
Stylish: The Lift Me Up hitmaker strolled onto the stage inside Caesar’s Palace making a fashion statement wearing a stonewash, denim caped dress along with matching thigh-high boots
Other adaptations: The story has previously been shown on the big screen, including in 2011 with The Smurfs from Columbia Pictures which garnered around $563 million in the box office
The star, who confirmed she was in the third trimers of her second pregnancy at the event, was also joined by Paramount Animation head, Ramsey Naito.
According to Variety, the upcoming film will focus on a ‘central’ theme and question which simply is, ‘What is a Smurf?’
The story has previously been shown on the big screen, including in 2011 with The Smurfs from Columbia Pictures which garnered around $563 million in the box office. Stars that lent their voices included Neil Patrick Harris and Katy Perry, who was cast as Smurfette.
A sequel was released two years later in 2013 to negative reviews, and a reboot with a new cast premiered in 2017 titled, Smurfs: The Lost Village.
Demi Lovato had voiced Smurfette with other celebrities joining the project, such as Rainn Wilson and Joe Manganiello.
Further details or cast members for The Smurfs Movie have yet to be revealed, with the project still in its early, pre-production stages.
Rihanna was glammed up for her surprise appearance at the annual CinemaCon, and threw her long locks up into a stylish bun on top of her head.
Her makeup was classically done for the big announcement, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes, as well as a dark blue, smoky shadow around her eyes to coincide with the colors of her ensemble.
Baby on the way! The Grammy winner showed off her growing baby bump and confirmed that she was in the third trimester of her pregnancy at the event, according to Variety
Multiple roles: Rihanna will not only star in the project, but will also be a producer, as well as writing and recording original songs for the movie, which is slated to release in theaters later in February 2025
Glammed up: She added a sparkling, diamond and sapphire necklace along with smaller, dainty earrings that glittered underneath the bright stage lights
A warm contour and blush was added to better accentuate her cheekbones, while a glossy, nude-colored tint was worn on her lips for a finishing touch.
The Umbrella hitmaker is no stranger to voice acting, and took on a leading role in the 2015 animated film from DreamWorks called, Home. She has also starred in other movie projects such as Battleship and Ocean’s Eight.
The star has been keeping herself busy as she prepares to welcome baby number two with Good For You rapper, A$AP Rocky. The couple also share a son who will soon celebrate his first birthday next month in May.
She made the big announcement that she was pregnant with her second child while performing at the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime show earlier this year in February.
Along with taking a dive back into the film industry, Rihanna has also been working on new music and the possibility of a new album for anticipated fans.
When talking to British Vogue for the March cover story earlier this year, the singer was asked if she had any plans to release an album in 2023, prompting her to reply with, ‘I want it to be this year.’
Previous voice acting: The Umbrella hitmaker is no stranger to voice acting, and took on a leading role in the 2015 animated film from DreamWorks called, Home
Special day: Rihanna crossed paths with renowned film director, Martin Scorsese as well as Seth Rogen at the CinemaCon event on Thursday and paused for photos together
‘Like, honestly, it’d be ridiculous if it’s not this year. But I just want to have fun. I just want to make music and make videos,’ she further explained to the outlet.
The last album she released was back in 2016 with ANTI, and noted the ‘pressures’ to share more music, but explained, ‘that if it’s not better than that then it is not even worth it.’
‘I realized that if I keep waiting until this feels right and perfect and better, maybe it’s going to keep taking forever and maybe it’ll never come out and no, I’m not down to that,’ Rihanna added.
‘So I want to play. And by play, I mean I have my ideas in my head, but I can’t say them out loud yet.’
The Love On The Brain songstress crossed paths with other celebrities at the event on Thursday, including film director, Martin Scorsese, who was dapper in a classic dark navy suit, along with a white dress shirt and red tie.
New biopic: Rihanna was spotted with Ziggy Marley, who was at CinemaCon to promote the upcoming biopic centered around his late father, Bob Marley
Cheerful: The current president of Nickelodeon, Brian Robbins, flashed a big smile as he had the chance to catch up with the award-winning singer
She was also seen posing for a photo with Seth Rogen, who put on a stylish display in a dark green suit along with a satin dress shirt.
Rihanna was spotted with Ziggy Marley, who was at CinemaCon to promote the upcoming biopic centered around his late father, Bob Marley, which is called, Bob Marley: One Love.
Seth Rogen pulled double-duty on the final day of CinemaCon, taking to the stage during Paramount Pictures’ presentation to promote Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, which he stars in and produces.
The actor and producer – who voices Bebop in the new movie – was clad in a sharp emerald green suit sans tie – to promote the animated film, in theaters August 4, 2023.
Rogen also posed with John Krasinski, who was also part of the Paramount presentation for his movie A Quiet Place: Day One, which he produces, and his movie Imaginary Friends, which he stars, writes, directs and produces.
After directing, producing and starring in 2018’s A Quiet Place and 2020’s A Quiet Place Part II, Krasinski only serves as a producer on A Quiet Place: Day One.
The new film A Quiet Place: Day One goes back to the first day the aliens invade Earth, set in New York City, in theaters March 8, 2024.
Krasinski gets back into the directors chair with IF which follows a young girl (Cailey Fleming) who has the ability to see the imaginary friends of people around her…
Double duty: Seth Rogen pulled double-duty on the final day of CinemaCon, taking to the stage during Paramount Pictures’ presentation to promote Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, which he stars in and produces
Seth in green: The actor and producer – who voices Bebop in the new movie – was clad in a sharp emerald green suit sans tie
John and Seth: Rogen also posed with John Krasinski, who was also part of the Paramount presentation for his movie A Quiet Place: Day One, which he produces, and his movie Imaginary Friends, which he stars, writes, directs and produces
John: After directing, producing and starring in 2018’s A Quiet Place and 2020’s A Quiet Place Part II, Krasinski only serves as a producer on A Quiet Place: Day One
Director: Krasinski gets back into the directors chair with IF which follows a young girl (Cailey Fleming) who has the ability to see the imaginary friends of people around her…
Co-stars: The director also writes and stars in IF alongside Ryan Reynolds, Steve Carrell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr., Fiona Shaw, and Bobby Moynihan
Voice: Krasinski also announced a number of voice cast actors such as Matt Damon, Vince Vaughn, Awkwafina , Vince Vaughn and Maya Rudolph, though their roles are unclear
Spongebob: Paramount also announced The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (May 23, 2025) and Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie (September 29, 2023)
Ziggy: The studio also unveiled a trailer for Bob Marley: One Love, with his son Ziggy Marley presenting the trailer for the film, debuting January 12, 2024
Martin and Leo: Scorsese was also presented with the Legend of Cinema award and was featured in conversation with his Killers of the Flower Moon star Leonardo Di Caprio
Double duty: Rogen also pulled double-duty by helping to present an advanced screening of Joy Ride, which he produces through his Point Grey production company
Seth presents: He helped present the advanced screening of the film – hitting theaters July 7 – alongside Sabrina Wu, Stephanie Hsu, Sherry Cola and Ashley Park
Paramount also announced The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (May 23, 2025) and Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie (September 29, 2023).
The director also writes and stars in IF alongside Ryan Reynolds, Steve Carrell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr., Fiona Shaw, and Bobby Moynihan.
Krasinski also announced a number of voice cast actors such as Matt Damon, Vince Vaughn, Awkwafina, Vince Vaughn and Maya Rudolph, though their roles are unclear.
The studio also unveiled a trailer for Bob Marley: One Love, with his son Ziggy Marley presenting the trailer for the film, debuting January 12, 2024.
The studio also released 20 minutes of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, in theaters July 14, a trailer for Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon and an October 10, 2025 release date for The Last Airbender.
Scorsese was also presented with the Legend of Cinema award and was featured in conversation with his Killers of the Flower Moon star Leonardo Di Caprio.
Rogen also pulled double-duty by helping to present an advanced screening of Joy Ride, which he produces through his Point Grey production company.
He helped present the advanced screening of the film – hitting theaters July 7 – alongside Sabrina Wu, Stephanie Hsu, Sherry Cola and Ashley Park.
