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The Croods Voice Cast: Where Are The Stars Now And The Shocking Friends Connection Behind Eep

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The Croods franchise has cemented its place as a beloved animated series, chronicling the adventures of the world's first family as they navigate a prehistoric landscape filled with fantastical creatures and the ever-present threat of 'The End.' As of late 2025, the franchise remains highly relevant, not only through the success of its two major films but also the ongoing, long-running television spin-off, The Croods: Family Tree. This enduring popularity is largely thanks to the stellar A-list talent who bring the Croods and their rivals, the Betterman family, to life.

The journey from the 2013 original film to the 2020 sequel, The Croods: A New Age, and the subsequent television series, has involved a fascinating blend of continuity and change in the voice booth. While the core movie cast remains a who’s-who of Hollywood heavyweights—including Oscar winners and box office kings—the transition to the television series necessitated a complete overhaul of the voice actors, a move common in animated franchises that need to sustain a long-term production schedule. Diving into the cast reveals surprising behind-the-scenes details and the impressive careers of the actors who make the Croods family roar.

The Core Crood Family: Full Voice Cast and Biographies

The heart of the franchise lies in the Crood family unit, a collection of endearingly clumsy, fearful, and ultimately loving cavepeople. The original and sequel films featured a consistent, star-studded lineup, creating instantly recognizable vocal performances.

  • Grug Crood (Voice: Nicolas Cage)

    Biography & Notable Works: The patriarch of the Croods, Grug is defined by his overprotective nature and his famous mantra: "Never not be afraid." Nicolas Cage, an Academy Award winner known for his eclectic filmography, infuses Grug with both booming aggression and deep-seated vulnerability. His notable works include Leaving Las Vegas, Face/Off, Con Air, and National Treasure. Cage has stated that he loves the freedom of animation and turned down a role in Shrek, making his commitment to Grug a significant choice.

  • Eep Crood (Voice: Emma Stone)

    Biography & Notable Works: The adventurous, rebellious eldest daughter, Eep is the first to embrace change and the modern-minded Guy. Emma Stone, also an Academy Award winner, provides Eep’s spirited voice. Her credits include La La Land, Easy A, The Amazing Spider-Man, and most recently, the critically acclaimed Poor Things. Stone’s work on Eep is one of the most dynamic in the films.

  • Guy (Voice: Ryan Reynolds)

    Biography & Notable Works: The resourceful, innovative outsider who introduces the Croods to 'ideas,' Guy becomes Eep’s love interest. Ryan Reynolds, a global superstar known for his quick wit and charm, was cast in the role, replacing Zachary Levi during the original film’s production. Reynolds is famous for the Deadpool franchise, The Proposal, and Free Guy. He brings his signature charismatic delivery to the prehistoric inventor.

  • Ugga Crood (Voice: Catherine Keener)

    Biography & Notable Works: Grug’s supportive and pragmatic wife, Ugga often serves as the family’s emotional anchor. Catherine Keener is a two-time Academy Award nominee with a reputation for nuanced performances in films like Being John Malkovich, Capote, and Get Out.

  • Gran (Voice: Cloris Leachman)

    Biography & Notable Works: The feisty, nearly immortal matriarch of the family, Gran is a constant source of comedic relief. The late, legendary Cloris Leachman, an Oscar and multiple Emmy winner, voiced Gran in both films. Her career spanned decades, including roles in The Last Picture Show and Young Frankenstein. Her passing in 2021 was a loss to Hollywood and the franchise, leading to a recasting in the TV series.

  • Thunk Crood (Voice: Clark Duke)

    Biography & Notable Works: The well-meaning but dim-witted middle child, Thunk is often glued to his sidekick, a sloth named Belt. Clark Duke is known for his roles in Hot Tub Time Machine, Kick-Ass, and the TV series The Office.

The Croods: A New Age: Introducing the Betterman Voices

The 2020 sequel introduced a new, more evolved family, the Betterman clan, whose presence challenged the Croods' traditional way of life. This new cast added significant star power and complexity to the franchise's dynamics.

  • Phil Betterman (Voice: Peter Dinklage)

    Phil is the patriarch of the Betterman family, a seemingly sophisticated man who lives in a comfortable treehouse. Peter Dinklage, an Emmy and Golden Globe winner, gives Phil a smooth, slightly condescending tone. Dinklage is globally recognized for his iconic role as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones and his work in films like Cyrano.

  • Hope Betterman (Voice: Leslie Mann)

    Hope is Phil’s wife, equally 'modern' and initially skeptical of the Croods' rough-around-the-edges lifestyle. Leslie Mann is a renowned comedic actress, known for her roles in films such as Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and This Is 40.

  • Dawn Betterman (Voice: Kelly Marie Tran)

    Dawn is the Betterman’s only child and quickly becomes Eep's best friend, despite their different upbringings. Kelly Marie Tran, known for her role as Rose Tico in the Star Wars sequel trilogy and as the voice of Raya in Raya and the Last Dragon, voiced Dawn in the film.

Behind the Mic: Surprising Secrets from the Croods Voice Booth

Voice acting for a major animated feature is often a long, isolated process, but the actors frequently find unique ways to connect with their characters and bring them to life. The Croods cast has shared several surprising details about their work on the films.

One of the most unexpected revelations came from Emma Stone regarding her character, Eep. For the sequel, A New Age, Stone revealed that she took inspiration from a classic 90s sitcom character: Monica Geller from Friends. Stone explained that Eep's energy and her tendency to become intensely focused and slightly neurotic when faced with the Betterman family's organized lifestyle mirrored Monica's personality, giving Eep's voice a fresh, relatable edge in the second film.

Nicolas Cage approached Grug by focusing on the character's core emotional state. He described Grug as the conservative patriarch of the family, driven by an exaggerated fight-or-flight response, which is what makes his booming, fearful voice so distinctive. Cage noted that while Grug is an overprotective caveman, his performance aimed to highlight the deep love and heart at the center of the character's conservative nature.

Furthermore, the directors often record the actors separately, a common practice in animation. However, the chemistry between the core cast, particularly Cage, Stone, and Reynolds, was so strong that their individual performances seamlessly blended to create a believable, bickering, and loving family unit across both major cinematic releases.

The Croods: Family Tree – Why the Voices Changed

Following the massive success of The Croods: A New Age, DreamWorks launched the animated series The Croods: Family Tree on Hulu and Peacock, which has run for multiple seasons. A major difference between the films and the series is the complete recasting of the main roles. This decision is typical for animated TV shows, which require actors to commit to weekly or daily recording sessions over a long period, a schedule that is often incompatible with the busy film careers of A-list stars like Ryan Reynolds and Emma Stone.

The series features a talented new ensemble of voice actors who successfully captured the essence of the original characters:

  • Grug Crood: Kiff VandenHeuvel (replaces Nicolas Cage)
  • Eep Crood: Ally Dixon (replaces Emma Stone)
  • Guy: Darin Brooks (replaces Ryan Reynolds)
  • Ugga Crood: Amy Landecker (replaces Catherine Keener)
  • Gran: Artemis Pebdani (replaces the late Cloris Leachman)
  • Dawn Betterman: Kelly Marie Tran voiced Dawn for the first four seasons, but was later replaced by Abby Trott for the later seasons of the series.

The recasting for Gran was particularly poignant, following the passing of the original voice actress, Cloris Leachman, in 2021. Artemis Pebdani stepped into the role, continuing Gran’s legacy of sharp-witted comedy for the television audience.

The Future of the Croods Franchise: Is a Third Film Coming?

Given the commercial and critical success of The Croods: A New Age, which earned a Golden Globe nomination and performed exceptionally well at the box office despite its unusual release strategy, speculation about a third film, often referred to as The Croods 3, is constant. While a concrete, officially confirmed release date from DreamWorks Animation has not been set as of late 2025, industry analysts and fan communities continue to anticipate a new installment. Early speculation suggests a potential release window could be around 2026, focusing on Eep and Guy navigating the challenges of their evolved world and the newly merged Crood-Betterman family.

Whether a third film materializes or the franchise continues solely through the successful Family Tree series, the voices of the Croods—both the iconic A-list originals and the talented series cast—will remain the driving force behind this enduring prehistoric comedy. The franchise's ability to seamlessly blend the star power of its film cast with the dedicated talent of its television cast ensures that the Croods' adventures will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come.

The Croods Voice Cast: Where Are the Stars Now and The Shocking Friends Connection Behind Eep
voices from the croods
voices from the croods

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