Harvey Guillén Says Voicing Odie in The Garfield Movie Was ‘Such a Challenge’

Harvey Guillén, who lends his voice to the character of Odie, recounted the unique challenges he faced in the upcoming The Garfield Movie. In a recent interview with MovieWeb, Guillén shared insights into his experience working on this highly anticipated project.

“I was like, ‘Wait, doesn’t Odie not speak?’ and they went, ‘We like for you to convey all these different emotions as the movie progresses, but you can’t use words.’ and it’s such a challenge, because it’s just sound effects. You’re just using your vocal chords with sound effects and character and grounded the whole time. And so that was kind of a challenge but so fun to do.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing the final product. Apparently, it looks great. They’ve been showing the movie, and people are happy with that. So, I’m excited to see what that looks like.”

Odie, the beloved canine companion of Garfield, is known for his silent yet expressive demeanor in the original comic series. Guillén faced the intriguing task of bringing this character to life without the use of words. Despite the difficulties, he found the process enjoyable and is eager to see the final product, which has already received positive feedback from early screenings.

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Harvey Guillén gained recognition for his role as Guillermo in the FX series What We Do in the Shadows, where he portrayed a long-suffering familiar of a vampire with dreams of becoming one himself. His performance in this critically acclaimed series showcased his comedic skills and opened doors to other opportunities, and just recently, Blue Beetle.

The Garfield Movie Builds Anticipation with Star-Studded Cast

The Garfield Movie, directed by Mark Dindal, is generating significant buzz and has been named the fourth most anticipated new movie performance of 2024 by a Fandango poll. The film features an ensemble cast including Chris Pratt as Garfield, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Brett Goldstein, and Bowen Yang. This new adaptation follows the success of previous Garfield films and promises to bring a fresh take on the iconic lasagna-loving cat created by Jim Davis.

According to Deadline, Fandango’s survey of 8,000 ticket buyers highlighted the excitement surrounding Chris Pratt’s portrayal of Garfield, ranking it among the top anticipated performances alongside Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie à Deux, Jenna Ortega in Beetlejuice 2, and Ariana Grande as Glinda in Wicked Part 1.

As the release date approaches, fans are eagerly awaiting the return of Garfield and his friends to the big screen. With a talented cast and a fresh perspective on the beloved characters, The Garfield Movie is poised to be a highlight of 2024’s cinematic offerings. Harvey Guillén’s unique contribution as Odie is sure to be a standout, adding depth and humor to the film without uttering a single word.