Along with starring, Rihanna is producing the Paramount Animation production. She also penned original songs for the film.

“I tried to get the Papa Smurf role, but it didn’t work out,” Rihanna joked back in 2023 to tease the new film at the annual exhibitor event CinemaCon.

“Smurfs” will touch on questions of identity among the Smurfs. Chris Miller and Matt Landon are the film’s directors, while Pam Brady wrote the screenplay. The voice cast features Natasha Lyonne, Nick Offerman, Amy Sedaris, Nick Kroll, Daniel Levy, Octavia Spencer, Sandra Oh, Hannah Waddingham, Xolo Maridueña, James Corden, Alex Winter, Billie Lourd, Kurt Russell and John Goodman.

This new musical version of “Smurfs” follows the Sony Pictures film franchise adaptation of the iconic property. Those live-action/CG hybrid films starred Neil Patrick Harris and Katy Perry. The tiny blue characters originate from the world of Belgian artist Peyo’s comic books.

Peyo’s comics were “were our blueprint, also aesthetically, and then you look for opportunities within that. You have the Smurfs village, for example, this mysterious, magical place. You can reinvent it a bit or add to the lore. How did they get there? Why are they there?” Miller said at Annecy Animation Festival last year.”

“Smurfs” will hit theaters on July 18. Watch the trailer below.