Celine Dion will expand her involvement in the upcoming 3D animated feature High in the Clouds by performing original songs written and composed by Paul McCartney. The project, adapted from McCartney’s children’s novel, will see its soundtrack released worldwide by Universal Music Group.
Dion had previously been confirmed as part of the film’s voice cast, in which she portrays Sugartail, the mother of the protagonist squirrel Wirral. The voice cast is anchored by Himesh Patel and Hannah Waddingham, alongside McCartney, Idris Elba, Lionel Richie, Ringo Starr, and Jimmy Fallon. In addition to Dion, Waddingham, Patel, and McCartney will lend their voices to musical performances throughout the picture.
The narrative follows teenage squirrel Wirral, voiced by Patel, who accidentally sparks a revolution against a bossy diva-owl named Gretsch, voiced by Waddingham, after music is banned in his town. Wirral then embarks on an extraordinary journey to restore music.
Academy Award winner Michael Giacchino has composed the original score for the film, building upon themes created by McCartney. Giacchino’s previous credits include animated works such as Ratatouille, Inside Out, and Coco.
The announcement regarding Dion’s musical contributions follows her return to the stage in Paris, where she completed a concert residency drawing approximately 550,000 spectators across 16 shows. The engagement marked her first major concert program since she was forced to halt her Courage World Tour in 2020 due to pandemic restrictions and subsequent health challenges.
McCartney publicly acknowledged Dion’s return to the concert circuit on social media, expressing enthusiasm for her participation in the film. “It’s been so great to see the amazing reaction to Céline’s comeback in Paris,” McCartney wrote. “I’m so excited that she’s part of our High in the Clouds film. I’ve just been listening to some of her parts, and I’m blown away by it.”
High in the Clouds adapts McCartney’s 2005 children’s book, which was co-written with Philip Ardagh and illustrated by Geoff Dunbar. Development on the cinematic adaptation has spanned several years, including an earlier 2015 iteration that involved a brief collaboration between McCartney and Lady Gaga on a track.
The production is directed by animation filmmaker Toby Genkel, known for The Amazing Maurice, from a screenplay by Oscar winner Jon Crocker, whose credits include Paddington 2. Patrick Hanenberger serves as production design lead.
Production is backed by Paul McCartney through MPL Communications, alongside Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne of Unique Features. Gaumont producers Sidonie Dumas, Nicolas Atlan, and Terry Kalagian are joined by partners including Polygram Entertainment, Lemoko Investments, Sky, and James L. Nederlander Productions. Gaumont Animation is producing the feature in partnership with 88 Pictures, which is managing key animation elements.
Gaumont is slated to present an exclusive work-in-progress screening of the feature during the upcoming American Film Market. International distribution rights have already been secured across major territories, including Sky UK Ltd. in the United Kingdom, Constantin Film in German-speaking regions, and various distributors spanning Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. CAA Media Finance is managing North American arrangements.
