The Barking Cast Behind SHOW DOGS

Wild things are happening on movie screens in 2018. This year will see dinosaur auctions, alien hunters and an aquatic superhero. Even with such a bizarre lineup, SHOW DOGS might produce 2018’s most unique movie characters: talking dogs.
As a film that will see police dogs explore their inner fashionistas, SHOW DOGS promises to be one of this year’s most hilarious offerings. But who are the colorful personalities that will have us laughing? Let’s get to know the cast a little better.
Will Arnett
Will Arnett may be renowned for his voicework, but in SHOW DOGS he actually appears on screen, playing Frank, the human partner of police dog Max. As revealed in the trailer, it will be up to Frank to make Max (and the rest of the police dogs) look as showy as possible for their covert mission.
Arnett has appeared in many films including Blades of Glory and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, he is an even more prolific voice actor. He’s been heard in animated films Ratatouille and Despicable Me, and notably voiced Batman in the Lego movies. He also voices the titular character on popular Netflix series BoJack Horseman.
Chris “Ludacris” Bridges
Ludacris provides the voice of Max, a Rottweiler which works as a police dog. When a dog show is used to hide smuggled animals, Max goes undercover as a show dog. Since the character is known for his loud mouth, he will undoubtedly be responsible for most of the film’s most hilarious moments.
Ludacris found initial success in music, but the successful rapper is no stranger to acting. His most famous role is Tej Parker in The Fast and The Furious film franchise, but he has also appeared in Crash, Ball Don’t Lie, Gamer and New Year’s Eve. While SHOW DOGS will be his first theatrical voice role, he has provided voice work for an episode of The Simpsons and for multiple video games.
Natasha Lyonne
Natasha Lyonne plays Mattie. While we don’t actually know that much about the character at this point in time, we do know that Lyonne has no issue making us laugh. Known for her roles in the American Pie film franchise and the Netflix series Orange Is The New Black, Lyonne has a fine-tuned comedic instinct. Mattie might be the character we’re most looking forward to seeing in the film.
Jordin Sparks
Jordin Sparks is no stranger to using her voice — the singer won American Idol in 2007 and has since released two Top 10 albums and multiple Top 20 singles. In SHOW DOGS, she will be voicing Daisy, a Border Collie who seems to have an eye for Max. Now she has to help her love interest solve the canine caper of the century. Sparks has also had lead roles in films Left Behind, The Grace of Jake and God Bless the Broken Road, as well as guest-starring on an episode of CSI.
Stanley Tucci
The legendary Stanley Tucci (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Devil Wears Prada, Captain America: The First Avenger) voices the boisterous dog Philippe, who is all too happy to be deputized by Max. From the trailer, it’s clear that he loves the glamorous lifestyle of being a show dog. Moreover, with his French accent, Philippe’s quick-witted responses will undoubtedly be one of the film’s most hilarious attributes. But will he be able to see past his luxurious life to solve a crime? This isn’t Tucci’s first time in the voice booth. He voiced Boldo in The Tale of Desperaux and has provided voices for animated shows such as Robot Chicken, American Dad! and BoJack Horseman.
Gabriel Iglesias
Gabriel Iglesias voices a pug named Sprinkles. Like Philippe, Sprinkles is also a member of Max’s team and is eventually deputized by the Rottweiler. Iglesias has the comic chops to bring any character to life, but a pug like Sprinkles should be an entertaining challenge. Moreover, he’s already an experienced voice actor, having previously voiced characters in films The Book of Life, Smurfs: The Lost Village and Coco.
Omar Chaparro
Omar Chaparro plays Señor Gabriel. Not much is known about the character, but Chaparro is a veteran actor, having appeared in films and TV shows throughout his two-decade long career. It’s ironic that he will actually be appearing in SHOW DOGS as the human Señor Gabriel, as Chaparro has been voicing characters for quite some time — having previously worked on the Spanish dubs of The Incredibles and Kung Fu Panda. After Show Dogs, he will also appear in upcoming film Detective Pikachu.
Shaquille O’Neal
Every larger-than-life movie needs a larger-than-life star, and Shaquille O’Neal is the Show Dogs MVP. The former NBA player voices Karma, an animal we don’t know much about at this point. But as O’Neal has previously lent his voice to films such as The Smurfs 2 and The Lego Movie, you can rest assured that he will be the perfect player to bring Karma to life.
SHOW DOGS is looking one of this year’s funniest movies. The only question is: which of these personalities will have you laughing the most?
SHOW DOGS hits theaters on May 18, 2018.