According to Variety, Justin Timberlake will provide the voice of Artie, King Harold's rebellious nephew, in DreamWorks' Shrek 3.

News of Timberlake's signing for the next installment of the studio's blockbuster CGI franchise was to be unveiled Sunday at the studio's "Animation Now: Imagination Innovation Inspiration" at Lincoln Center.

At the event, where Timberlake and Mike Myers read a scene from Shrek 3, the former 'NSYNCer was loudly welcomed by kid-heavy aud.

"So is this an audition?" he asked.

DreamWorks is plotting a May 2007 release for Shrek 3, which has Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas once again voicing the signature characters.

The studio also is working on Shrek 4, with Tim Sullivan penning a screenplay.

Emceed by Al Roker, DreamWorks' animation event was skedded to give family auds an inside look at how the studio's toons are created.

The studio also touted upcoming pics Madagascar, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Over the Hedge, Flushed Away and Bee Movie at the fete.

Among those slated to be on hand at Lincoln Center on Sunday were Timberlake, Myers, Madagascar's Chris Rock and Bee Movie's Jerry Seinfeld.

Timberlake next appears in live-action indie "Edison," with Kevin Spacey, Morgan Freeman and LL Cool J.