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Star of 'Emperor's New Groove'

David Spade enjoys the animated life


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Have an animated time with 'Emperor's New Groove'
 
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Movie trailer for 'The Emperor's New Groove'

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LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Disney originally came up with "Kingdom of the Sun" around the same time as "Tarzan."

But where last year's "Tarzan" succeeded in bringing a classic character to a vivid new life, "Kingdom of the Sun" just didn't click. The studio reportedly came close to pulling the plug on the production, and might have if it weren't for the comic riffs coming from actor David Spade, the voice of "Kingdom"'s Emperor Kuzco.

Spade, executives decided, was great -- even if "Kingdom of the Sun" was not. So they scrapped the title, kept Spade and reworked the film. Now it's "The Emperor's New Groove," a comedy that's bowed to laughing acclaim. It's Spade's first animated film.

CNN recently spoke with Spade, who was pretty animated himself about making the movie.

CNN: The director and producer of this film say you can take some of the responsibility for the enormous left turn "Groove" took.

David Spade: That's nice; that's what I'm hearing. We talked about that during the sessions but now that they're telling other people; maybe it's true. Because, I think (at first) they were just trying to be nice to me. They were saying that some of the stuff we were doing was funny.

CNN: This initially was a more serious piece, right?

David Spade: It (originally) was more of a role reversal (film) - "The Prince and the Pauper." There was a llama herder that was poor and he looked like me (the emperor). We switched places, and we almost did that whole movie. And they just thought it was too familiar; it wasn't new enough. They were like, "Let's take a left turn. Let's do something we haven't done. And let's make it like a buddy movie -- less songs, more comedy. Let's make it goofy and fun."

CNN: It seems as if you started off with something like "The Last Emperor" and ended up with something like "Road to Rio."

David Spade: Hopefully, people don't see what's coming. Along the way there's enough jokes to keep it moving, some cool animation. You know you're winking at the audience. We know it's fun. We know it's a goofy movie.

CNN: This is your first animated movie, so it was like that phrase everyone has heard so much lately: "uncharted waters." What about that?

David Spade: It was my first step into this (animation), and to have Disney call up and say, "We like your voice -- nasally, sarcastic and monotone is so hard to find out there, and we need you"

Wendie Malick is the voice of Chicha and also stars with Spade in
Wendie Malick is the voice of Chicha and also stars with Spade in "Just Shoot Me"  

I said great. I didn't even have to read it; I was just caught up and excited. My handlers said it was a big deal; they (Disney) could get anybody. They... had all these great people. ...Already I've met kids who have seen it, and it's fun. It's something nice out there for kids.

CNN: Are you inclined now to do more animation? It doesn't look like it involves much heavy lifting...

David Spade: It's not too bad, you know? I'd do one of these again. That would be fun, I already know it, and it's fun. I'm no De Niro. I'm not going to change my voice and do characters. This is it. This is my voice -- take it or leave it. If this thing works and they want to do another one, it'd be great.



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