Captain Underpants First Look Released

Just in time for Christmas, DreamWorks has gifted EW with a first look image of Captain Underpants, an upcoming animated film based on Dav Pilkey's popular book series.

Ed Helms — best known for his roles in NBC's The Office and The Hangover trilogy — is voicing the title character, who is a tyrannical principal that has been hypnotized into believing he is an underpants-and-cape wearing superhero by two mischievous fourth graders.

“[Helms] has managed to tap into the sheer stupidity of Captain Underpants,” director David Soren told EW. “He’s a delusional superhero who thinks he’s got all kinds of powers and has literally zero ability beyond just that of a middle-aged man.”

With 13 books in the series and 3 spin-offs, the film had a number of villains to choose from. In the end, they went with Professor Poopypants (voiced by Nick Kroll). “I mean, with a name like that, he’s kind of irresistible,” Soren said.

Two scheming fourth graders, George Beard (Kevin Hart) and Harold Hutchins (Thomas Middleditch) whose personal missions are to play pranks, hide in their secret treehouse and write comic books. But when they accidentally bring their favorite comic book character, Captain Underpants, to life through a hypnosis accident involving their megalomaniacal principal Mr. Krupp (Ed Helms), their elementary school life becomes anything but elementary. Rounding out the cast will be Jordan Peele who will voice Melvin, the nerdy nemesis of George and Harold, and Nick Kroll as the insidious villain, Professor Poopypants.

Directed by David Soren (Turbo) and based on a script by Nick Stoller (The Muppets).

Captain Underpants will be released on June 2, 2017