Whoopi Goldberg to Star in Asali: Power of the Pollinators Animated Short About Saving the Environment
Whoopi Goldberg will star in an upcoming animated short, called Asali: Power of the Pollinators.
The 67-year-old actress has joined the cast of the film, along with Monique Coleman, Ronen Rubinstein, Joy Odofu and Lupita Pineda, according to Variety.
The film tells the story of the honey bee Asali after she meets a group of pollinators and a human environmental scientist.
The unlikely group can save Asali, her family, and her home from a deadly force.
The short film will be the directorial debut of activist Maya Penn, who has been dedicated to sustainability and environmental education for the past 15 years.
New Role: Whoopi Goldberg will star in an upcoming animated short, called Asali: Power of the Pollinators.
Character: Maya released the trailer at South By Southwest during the Empowering the Next Generation to Build a Better Future highlight shoot, featuring Whoopi voicing a dragon-like character.
She also founded the eco-friendly global brand Maya’s Ideas when she was just eight years old.
At the age of 16, Penn received a commendation from United States President Barack Obama for his outstanding achievements in environmental stewardship.
In addition to starring in and directing the feature, Maya is animating and producing the film with her production company Upenndo! productions.
Viola Davis and Julius Tennon will serve as executive producers.
Maya released the trailer at South By Southwest during the Empowering the Next Generation to Build a Better Future highlight session, featuring Whoopi voicing a dragon-like character.
Last year, Whoopi starred in the movie Till, which tells the story of a teenager who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955 for whistling at a white woman, and considered it a passion project.
The Sister Act star said: “I’ve only (always) wanted to do things that interest me and things that I thought were interesting.” It doesn’t necessarily have to be interesting to other people.
‘It just has to really interest me, that’s always been the same. So getting to do this was a gift because this wasn’t my plan.’
Whoopi, who plays Emmett Till’s grandmother Alma Carthan in the film, revealed that her role in the film changed over time.
She said: ‘At one point I was going to act, but it was years and years and years ago. By the time we got it, I became a grandmother.
Asali: Power of the Pollinators comes after Whoopi starred in another project last week.
She played Mrs. Glen, Mark’s (Ames McNamara) music teacher in an episode of ABC’s hit show The Connors.