‘Despicable Me 2’ Star Benjamin Bratt Opens Up About Al Pacino
Despicable Me 2 star Benjamin Bratt recently opened up about replacing legendary actor Al Pacino in the upcoming animated comedy.
The former Law & Order star was quickly tapped for the role after Pacino reportedly ran into creative differences with directors Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud. Since the film’s release date was right around the corner, Illumination Entertainment and Universal didn’t waste any time bringing the actor aboard.
“As most of you know, Al Pacino was originally cast to voice both Eduardo and El Macho, and as such, he laid down his performance, which to my mind was brilliant, and the animators animated the character based on what he did,” Benjamin Bratt explained to Collider.
The actor said he worked quickly to re-record Eduardo and El Macho’s voices for Despicable Me 2. Bratt had to operate under very strict guidelines to ensure his performance fit the characters. When he realized he couldn’t replicate Al Pacino, Benjamin went back to the drawing board.
“So I simply used what he did as an inspiration and as a guide for what I needed to do, which was to find something within me and my own personal recollections to bring to it. The challenge for me was to find that in myself and make it feel real,” Benjamin Bratt said.
Curious parities can catch the actor’s performance when the film hits theaters tomorrow (July 3). Although the sequel is opening domestically this week, it is already off to a solid start overseas.
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Benjamin Bratt fans can also catch the actor in another sequel later this year. The Snitch star will reprise his role as Manny in Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. The follow-up arrives in cinemas on September 27.
Are you planning to catch Despicable Me 2 in theaters?
