There is a new Rugrats children’s series in the making that will feature actress Natalie Morales (Dead to Me) in a grownup role.
The all-new series, already in pre-production, reimagines the classic animated 1990s series about the lovable toddlers whose everyday life happenings amount to great adventures in their imaginations and little world. Produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio, the all-new Rugrats is a Paramount+ Original Series. It is expected to premiere on the latter streaming service this spring.
Morales (Dead to Me) will play Betty, the mother of the fraternal twins Phil and Lil, a former wrestler and a feminist. The Cuban-American actress is part of the latest all-star roster joining Rutrags: Ashley Rae Spillers (Vice Principals) and Tommy Dewey (The Mindy Project) as Tommy’s parents; Tony Hale (Arrested Development) as Chuckie’s father; Anna Chlumsky (Veep) and Timothy Simons (Veep), as Angelica’s parents; Nicole Byer (Nailed It!) and Omar Miller (Ballers) as Susie’s parents; and Michael McKean (Better Call Saul) as Grandpa Lou Pickles.
The new additions join the original voice cast members of the series: E.G. Daily as Tommy, Nancy Cartwright as Chuckie, Cheryl Chase as Angelica, Cree Summer as Susie and Kath Soucie as both Phil and Lil.
MOMS & DADS
Rutrags may center on the kids but their parents are also indispensable.
“The all-new Rugrats is packed with comedy, music and adventures that only babies can embark upon, and the role of the grown-ups is an essential piece of the series,” says Ramsey Naito, Nickelodeon Animation president.
Morales will be a new voice for her character, Betty.
“This incredibly talented group of actors provides a fresh and very funny take on these iconic roles, combining humor with heart to bring the characters to life in a whole new way,” said Liz Paulson, Nickelodeon’s senior vice president of talent and casting.
The original Rugrats TV series launched in 1991 and has been a successful media franchise with three films and a toy line. It’s won four Daytime Emmy Awards, six Kids’ Choice Awards. It also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
A SXSW STANDOUT
Morales is an award-winning actress who has scored recurring roles in series like White Collar, 90210, Parks and Recreation and Santa Clarita Diet. She has worked in the films Battle of the Sexes, Stuber and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, in the latter as a voice actress.
More recently, the Florida-born actor played Michelle Gutierrez in six episodes of the series Dead to Me and other roles in Mr. Mayor and Quibi’s Home Movie: The Princess Bride. Her feature directorial debut Language Lessons, about a teacher of an adult Spanish class who strikes an expected friendship with a student, premiered at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival. That romantic drama earned her the Audience Award to Narrative Spotlight at the SXSW Film Festival. She has also received nominations for other works to the Imagen Foundation Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Created by Arlene Klasky, Gabor Csupo and Paul Germain, the all-new Rugrats is executive produced by Eryk Casemiro (Rugrats) and Kate Boutilier (Rugrats) with Dave Pressler (Robot and Monster) and Casey Leonard (Breadwinners) serving as co-executive producers, Rachel Lipman (Rugrats) as co-producer and Kellie Smith (The Fairly OddParents) as line producer. Production is overseen by Mollie Freilich, senior manager of current series animation at Nickelodeon. Casting is overseen by Paulson.
Featured Photo: Natalie Morales. Courtesy: Catie Lafoon/Nickelodeon
