Stallone warns Philly colonists in ‘Liberty’ role
Mon Mar 4, 1:52 AM ETBy Steve Brennan
LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) — Sylvester Stallone is putting extra star muscle behind the planned PBS animated series “Liberty’s Kids” from DIC Entertainment. Stallone‘s distinctive voice will be used to re-enact the character of Paul Revere in the high-profile series that is set amid the events of the American Revolution.
Also new to the all-star cast is British actor Michael York, who has signed do provide the voice of Adm. Lord Howe, leader of the English naval forces and responsible for blockading the colonial ports. York is the first British actor to come aboard the project.
The series is set to premiere on PBS on Labor Day.
“Liberty’s,” which will air five days a week on PBS, follows the adventures of four teenage apprentices working for Benjamin Franklin’s newspaper in colonial Philadelphia. The great events and the heroes of the American Revolution are introduced to viewers through the kids’ interaction as reporters.
Joining Stallone — who gets to utter the famous warning “The British are coming! The British are coming!” — is an A-list cast of celebrity voice actors, including Walter Cronkite as Benjamin Franklin, Michael Douglas as George Washington, Billy Crystal as John Adams, Annette Bening as Jane Adams, Whoopi Goldberg as Deborah Sampson, Ben Stiller as Thomas Jefferson, Liam Neeson as John Paul Jones, Dustin Hoffman as Benedict Arnold and Yolanda King, daughter of the late Martin Luther King Jr., as Elizabeth Freeman.
Bob Stack, Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris were the showbiz honorees at the U.S. Vets Gala Honoring America’s Heroes, held Friday at the BevHilton. Lionel Richie, Constantina and Living Proof entertained.
By Army Archerd, Daily Variety Senior Columnist
Craig Zablo (March 4, 2002)