Harris, Vergara back for 'Smurfs 2'

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CULVER CITY, Calif., April 26 (UPI) -- Hollywood stars Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Sofia Vergara and Hank Azaria have returned for the sequel to "The Smurfs," Sony Pictures Animation announced.

The 2011 family flick earned more than $560 million at the worldwide box office.

Production has begun on Columbia Pictures' and Sony Pictures Animation's live-action/computer animated hybrid 3D comedy "The Smurfs 2," which is set in Europe.

While Harris, Vergara, Mays and Azaria will reprise their live-action roles, Katy Perry, Jonathan Winters, Alan Cumming, Fred Armisen, George Lopez, John Oliver and Anton Yelchin will once again lend their voices to the wee blue title characters.

Irish actor Brendan Gleeson joins the cast as the father of Harris' character, and Christina Ricci and J.B. Smoove will voice the new "Smurf-like naughty characters, Vexy and Hackus, respectively," a synopsis said.

"The Smurfs 2" is scheduled to be released in U.S. theaters July 31, 2013.

"We've brought the entire live-action and voice cast into the sequel. It's a real thrill to 'get the Smurf village back together' for another adventure. The same holds true for the crew. We are so deep in talent we know a fine film will result. It's like visiting with old friends -- just some slightly smaller than others," producer Jordan Kerner said in a statement Thursday.