Connery voices Scottish cartoon character

LOS ANGELES, March 31 (UPI) -- Sean Connery has lent his voice to the title character in Scotland's first animated feature film, "Sir Billi," Billi Productions Ltd. said.

The family movie, which is a collaboration between Glasgow-based Billi Productions Ltd. and the independent studio Glasgow Animation, is now in post-production and expected to be finished by this summer, Sascha Hartmann, co-founder of Billi Productions Ltd., announced Wednesday.

Hartmann is directing "Sir Billi" from a screenplay written by his wife Tessa Hartmann from an original story they developed together.

John Fraser is producing, with Connery serving as executive producer.

Expanded to a feature-length CGI film from a 2006 short concept, the adventure flick is set in the Scottish Highlands and also features the voice talents of Alan Cumming, Miriam Margolyes, Alex Norton, Ford Kiernan and Barbara Rafferty.

"We sent a DVD to Sir Sean via a mutual acquaintance and heard nothing for a few weeks when suddenly the phone rang. It was Sir Sean personally explaining that his grandchildren had taken the DVD from his home and kept it. They loved it that much. 'If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me!' he said, and with that, we met a few weeks later when he came to Scotland. We've been working closely with him ever since," Tessa Hartmann said in a statement.

"I'm excited to be a part of this incredible film and Scotland's first animated feature," added Connery. "'Sir Billi' is truly a first-class film, with an exceptional cast, and is sure to delight audiences of all ages."