Harris Signs on as Non-Blue Lead in Smurfs

Smurfs: The Movie has landed its first big-name cast member in Neil Patrick Harris.

The popular star of How I Met Your Mother will play the main live-action character in the Sony film, which will feature CGI Smurfs, reports Deadline Hollywood.

Demand for Harris has been increasing in recent years, with the one-time star of Doogie Howser, M.D. developing a cult following for his roles in everything from Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog to hosting the Tony and Emmy awards. He also has done extensive animation voice work in projects as diverse as Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Robot Chicken and Penguins of Madagascar.

The film, directed by Raja Gosnell, is set to start shooting in April.

Smurfs: The Movie is, of course, based on the classic comic strip created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo in 1958 that became a successful animated TV series from Hanna-Barbera in the 1980s.