Neil Patrick Harris, who displayed his song and dance chops during the Oscar telecast, has signed on for the key live-action role in the upcoming The Smurfs movie, which will combine CGI with conventional cinematography (see “Here Come the Smurfs”).   Live-action/CGI veteran Raja Gosnell (Scooby Doo, Beverly Hills Chihuahua) will direct the film.

The vocal cast that will be providing the voices for the miniature blue creatures will include the 84-year-old comedian Jonathan Winters, who actually did some voice work for the original Smurf cartoons.  Winters will voice “Pap” Smurf, while Cummings will provide the vocalization for “Gutsy” Smurf and George Lopez will lend a Latino tinge to “Grouchy” Smurf.  Katy Perry will naturally provide the voice of the lone female Smurf, aka Smurfette.