Animated feature film On the Edge has announced its voice cast, led by Daryl McCormack and Mia McKenna-Bruce, with additional stars including Chris O’Dowd and Mark Rylance. Directed by Octavio Rodriguez, the movie follows a group of endangered animals on a quest for survival. The project aims to blend adventure with a conservation message through premium animation.
The voice cast for the animated feature On the Edge includes leads Daryl McCormack and Mia McKenna-Bruce, alongside Chris O’Dowd, Mark Rylance, Anna Maxwell Martin, Paterson Joseph, and Vincent Tong. Directed by Octavio Rodriguez, known for Ron’s Gone Wrong, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and Coco, the film centers on Donnie, a Cuban solenodon with an adventurous spirit, who leads a crew of endangered animals on a global quest for survival, freedom, and snacks.
The story features Donnie and his recruits—Vy, a sassy Aye-Aye; Kiki, an optimistic Kakapo parrot; and Roman, a dramatic Jamaican Funnel-Eared Bat—as they crash the world tour of Peng, a superstar panda, to uncover secrets of fame and survival. Written by Laura Dockrill and Michael Ryan, On the Edge is a collaboration between Studio BlueGreen, Studio 100 International, On the Edge Animation AIE, Able & Baker, Telegael, and Viva Pictures. Studio BlueGreen, a not-for-profit, originated the project to promote nature stories and conservation.
Producer Beth Blood stated, “Many movies claim to be so much more than a film. On the Edge is one of the very few premium-quality, globally animated releases to live up to this claim because we originated this film not for our personal profit but to achieve impact.” Rodriguez emphasized the appeal of underdog stories, saying, “A lot of movies or stories that I gravitate toward are those of the underdogs, the ones that have to do a little bit more to get to where they need to go.” He highlighted the film's focus on environmental impacts from the animals' perspective, including scenes in a truck, airport, under a train, and at a concert, to foster curiosity about conservation without overt messaging.
International rights are held by Studio 100 Film, with Viva Kids distributing in the U.S. and Canada. McCormack rose to prominence with Good Luck to You, Leo Grande and has appeared in Wake Up Dead Man and Twisters. McKenna-Bruce gained attention for How to Have Sex, winning the BAFTA Rising Star award, and will portray Maureen Starkey in Sam Mendes’ Beatles films. Rylance’s credits include The BFG, Bridge of Spies, and Wolf Hall, while O’Dowd has starred in Bridesmaids and This Is 40.
The humor derives from the characters' viewpoints and human-animal interactions, Rodriguez noted, aiming to spark post-viewing conversations about endangered species.