Today I have some sad news for Wilford Brimley. Danny Devito has stepped into the lead role of Fox Animation‘s adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax. Zac Efron, Betty White, Ed Helms, and Rob Riggle also star in the CG animated film about a weird, little beast who defends nature against industrialization. In a case of life imitating art, Devito had this to ramble:

“Look, I don’t want to be gruff about it, but we’ve got to wake up and smell the oil burning. I’m hoping that the squeakiest wheel gets the least grease. I feel sometimes the only way to get things done is shake people up a little bit, and the Lorax is not a guy who pussyfoots around. He’s not a guy who uses kid gloves. No, no, the Lorax means business.”

Jim Carrey and Mike Myers, who both had to sit in a make-up chair for hours on end before performing beneath hot setlights in the equivalent of a fur coat for their Seuss roles, are reportedly thrilled that Danny Devito has to drive all the way to Burbank for two hours of work. (USA Today)