Astro Boy blasting off at D3

The original anime is ready to return to games. D3Publisher announced today that it has secured the worldwide publishing rights for games based on the upcoming computer-animated feature film Astro Boy.

The film is under production at Imagi Studios, the outfit responsible for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle's CGI cinematic return in TMNT. It will be the second feature directed by David Bowers, whose first project was the Aardman Animations project Flushed Away.

Freddie Highmore (Finding Neverland, Arthur and the Invisibles) will voice the titular Astro Boy. Filling out the supporting cast are Nicholas Cage (Leaving Las Vegas, The Wicker Man), Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars, Pootie Tang), Donald Sutherland (MASH, Beerfest), and Eugene Levy (SCTV, American Pie Presents Band Camp).

This won't be Astro Boy's first venture into gaming. Four years ago, Sega released two games starring the robotic wunderkind on the same day. The Treasure-developed Astro Boy: Omega Factor for the Game Boy Advance received critical acclaim, whereas Astro Boy on the PlayStation 2 didn't.

D3's Astro Boy games are set for release on consoles and handheld systems to coincide with the film's launch in October of 2009.