Meryl Streep Returns to Cinema With 'Hoppers'

Following a five-year absence from the silver screen, world-renowned star Meryl Streep has returned to cinema with the new animated film "Hoppers." 

She voices the character of “Butterfly Queen," a monarch butterfly. The film had already started screening in Egyptian cinemas and across the world, highlighting Streep’s first cinematic appearance since "Don't Look Up" in 2021. 

Streep joined the project because of director Daniel Chung's long-term artistic vision, who confirmed that Streep’s name was the first suggestion as an imaginary model for the character before contacting her. 

Chung stated, “We described the character of a Butterfly Queen as strong and likened her to Streep while working on the project. When the selection process started, we decided to formally invite her. 

She has been the primary inspiration from the very beginning." 

Concerning her approval details, the director said, “During a Zoom meeting, Streep reacted to the story in a stunning way and expressed her admiration for the sense of humor in the film, despite some shocking details related to her character's fate.

However, she was ready for everything. Her approval was a dream come true ”.

On her part, Streep expressed her pride in embodying roles that exceed audience expectations, pointing out that she has no problem portraying fictional or strange characters, as in “The Ant Bully” (2006) as the Ant Queen and “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009) as Mrs. Fox. 

Additionally, Streep emphasized that she is keen on the idea that the role would include a meaningful presence and impact, even through voice acting only.

The film is screened in Egypt in a dubbed version in colloquial Arabic under the title “Sundus in a Beaver’s World." 

It is an animated fantasy adventure film, produced by Disney and Pixar and distributed by United Motion Pictures. The film is written and directed by Daniel Chung. 

The voice cast includes Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, Dave Franco, and Meryl Streep.

The film takes audiences on a journey into the fabulous world of nature through the story of “Mabel Tanaka," a passionate animal-lover who tries to save a natural setting that she’s emotionally connected to from a “highway” project planned by the mayor.

During her attempts, she discovers a developed technology that allows humans to inhabit the bodies of robotic animals and interact with wildlife. Thus, she decides to use it and is transformed into a “beaver” to start her grand adventure.