Pixar’s Hoppers and Project Hail Mary Unite: Surprising Voice Cameo Creates Buzz

Streep’s participation in “Hoppers,” where she voices the regal Insect Queen, was publicly known before the film’s debut. However, the specifics of her role provided one of the movie’s most delightful surprises. As the monarch who suggests the squashing of Mayor Jerry, voiced by Jon Hamm, viewers might anticipate her as the film’s primary antagonist. Yet, in a comedic twist, her character is accidentally squished by Mabel, played by Piper Curda, paving the way for the caterpillar Titus, voiced by Dave Franco, to ascend as the new Insect King. The decision to cast one of Hollywood’s most decorated actresses in such an unexpectedly brief role only amplifies the humor of the scene.

Meanwhile, in “Project Hail Mary,” Streep’s cameo takes on a meta angle. During a montage, Dr. Ryland Grace, portrayed by Ryan Gosling, experiments with various voices for the computer translation of Rocky’s alien dialect. Grace acknowledges Streep’s unparalleled acting talent but ultimately chooses a voice performed by James Ortiz, who also operates Rocky’s puppet.

Director Daniel Chong of “Hoppers” shared with The Playlist that he had envisioned the Insect Queen as a character akin to Meryl Streep long before casting discussions began. When the opportunity arose to pitch the role to Streep via Zoom, her immediate connection with the film’s comedy was palpable.

“Hoppers” director Daniel Chong told The Playlist that he envisioned the Insect Queen as a “Meryl Streep type” long before it came time to actually inquire about casting. The “Hoppers” team ended up on a Zoom call with Streep to explain the part, and she instantly vibed with the film’s humor. 

“The minute I started pitching the story,” Chong said, “she was just laughing the whole way through, and loved the tone. She understood the humor, and she understood what her role in the movie would be.” As for how she reacted to finding out about her character’s death, she reportedly responded, “I am ready for all that.”

“Project Hail Mary” directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were able to get Streep through their producer, Amy Pascal, who has worked with Streep several times before. Lord told Inquirer, “We were like, Amy, you’ve got to ask Meryl. It’s a magical moment in the movie. And Meryl said yes and couldn’t have been more playful and fun. She did so many different takes.” Streep and the other alternate Rocky voices spoke their lines into a microphone connected to an earpiece worn by Ryan Gosling, who never knew who was going to speak next.

Meryl Streep’s cameos in “Hoppers” and “Project Hail Mary” are her first performances in a wide release theatrical movie since she played Aunt March in Greta Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation of “Little Women.” Since then, she’s narrated documentaries, appeared in a handful of streaming releases — “Let Them All Talk” on HBO Max, “The Prom” and “Don’t Look Up” on Netflix — and been a regular guest on the Hulu series “Only Murders in the Building,” but it’s shocking to realize that these two joke cameos mark her official return to the big screen.

Streep’s live-action return to movie theaters comes in a couple of months. In a rare break from her policy of trying to avoid sequels, she returns to her Golden Globe-winning role as fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestley in “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” in theaters May 1. She’s also attached to play Joni Mitchell in a biopic directed by Cameron Crowe.