Sony Pictures Animation has brought on Homeland star Mandy Patinkin to voice Papa Smurf in their Untitled Smurfs Movie. Unlike 2011's The Smurfs and 2013's The Smurfs 2, which were live action/CGI animation hybrids, this Smurfs project will be fully animated, sticking closer to the original designs by creator Peyo. The project will give a new origin story to the Smurfs, and, while Papa Smurf is supposed to be "the wise paternal leader" of these tiny blue creatures, that will not always be the case.

Jonathan Winters voiced Papa Smurf in The Smurfs and The Smurfs 2, with Don Messick voicing the character in the original Smurfs animated TV series. Kelly Asbury (Gnomeo and Juliet, Shrek the Third) is directing from a script by Karey Kirkpatrick (The Secret World of Arrietty, Over The Hedge) and Chris Poche (Over The Hedge). Jordan Kerner is producing with Mary Ellen Bauder serving as co-producer.

Sony has already issued an August 5, 2016 release date for the Untitled Smurfs Movie, which puts it up against Warner Bros. superhero adventure Suicide Squad. The project marks a third dive into animation for Mandy Patinkin, who previously voiced roles in Hayao Miyazaki's The Wind Rises and Jock the Hero Dog. He most recently starred on the big screen in Wish I Was Here.