Steph Curry, Gabrielle Union, Caleb McLaughlin Lead A-List Voice Cast for Sony's Animated Feature ‘GOAT'
During a presentation at the Annecy Animation Festival today, Sony Pictures Animation unveiled the voice cast for its upcoming feature, 'GOAT,' an original action-comedy slated to hit theaters on Feb. 13, 2026. From the studio behind 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' and in collaboration with NBA great Stephen Curry's Unanimous Media and Modern Magic, 'GOAT' brings to life a world where the fiercest animals compete in the high-octane sport of roarball, and a diminutive goat dares to dream big.
Directed by Tyree Dillihay – who co-hosted the day's presentation with producer Michelle Raimo Kouyate – and co-directed by Adam Rosette, the film celebrates the spirit of the underdog with a story steeped in the energy of basketball culture.
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Leading the cast is 'Stranger Things' star Caleb McLaughlin, voicing Will Harris, the titular 'GOAT,' a small-framed but big-hearted dreamer determined to prove he belongs in the ROAR League, where speed and ferocity rule the court. He finds himself joining the Vineland Thorns, a premier roarball team populated by larger-than-life animal athletes.
During the presentation, SPA shared character animations for Will, whose slight frame and limited height sets him far apart from his roarball colleagues. In several of the shots, Will and the other pro roarball players could be seen wearing Under Armor branded gear, the sports brand most closely associated with Curry, as well as high-end casual fashion, much like their real-life NBA counterparts.
'Basketball culture is pop culture,' Dillihay explained. 'It's the only sport that sits at the intersection of music, fashion, tech, and art.'
Joining McLaughlin in the film's star-studded roster are Gabrielle Union ('Bring it On,' 'The Proud Family') – another NBA connection as she's married to Miami Heat legend Dwayne Wade – as Jett Fillmore, a legendary black leopard and the face of the Thorns who's still chasing her first championship after two decades in the league. NBA champion and film producer Curry lends his voice to Lenny Williamson, a giraffe player on the squad, while Nicola Coughlan ('Bridgerton,' 'Derry Girls') voices Olivia Burke, an ostrich team member. Comic and 'Big Mouth' co-creator Nick Kroll voices Modo Olachenko, a fire-breathing komodo dragon and David Harbour ('Stranger Things,' 'Zoopocalypse') rounds out the team as the powerhouse rhino Archie Everhardt.
Other key characters include the Thorns' owner, Florence Everson, voiced by Jenifer Lewis, and their reserved but reliable coach Dennis, voiced by Patton Oswalt. A major antagonist, league MVP Mane Attraction, who opposes Will's presence in the league, is still to be cast.
Roarball, the fictional sport at the film's center, echoes the intensity and style of pro hoops, complete with co-ed teams, biome-themed arenas and full-contact action. However, roarball is a far more violent and dangerous sport, as the courts themselves are malleable things that each change in their own ways during games. Volcanic courts can crack and erupt, jungle arenas grow and evolve and ice stadiums break apart and turn into flowing torrents.
To enhance the authenticity of the film's in-game action, Curry's former Golden State Warriors teammate and NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala has consulted on gameplay mechanics, while live-action costume designer Dominique Dawson brings distinctive fashion flair to the characters. Character designs are the work of artist Eran Alboher, and team branding was crafted by graphic designer Emily Morgan, known for her viral reinterpretations of real-world sports logos.
Several work-in-progress clips were shared with the at-capacity theatre. In the first, Will is seen practicing by himself at his local street court before a group of much larger animals forcibly removes him from the area. Later, a brief one-on-one match between Will and league up-and-coming superstar Mane Attraction is shown. The importance of this match becomes evident in the third clip, when the owner of the Thorns approaches the boy, having seen a clip of the match online.
In the fourth clip, Thorns megastar Jett finds out about Will while watching a sports news program. This leads into the day's fifth and final clip, a press conference unveiling Will to the media. If the humor and sharp animation shown in the early clips are an indication of what we can expect from the finished film, Sony may have another hit on its hands.
To close the Annecy presentation, producer Stephen Curry appeared via video, expressing disappointment he couldn't be in attendance but saying, 'I'm hoping that you enjoyed what you've seen from GOAT. And trust me, there's a lot more to come. And when this film is finished, it's going to be like nothing you've seen before.' He then rallied the audience, each provided with a GOAT foam claw, with the Vineland Thorns' team chant, 'Roots Run Deep!'
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