Kristen Bell has landed a key vocal role in Warner Brothers' CG-animated take on "Astro Boy."

Directed by David Bowers, "Astro Boy" is based on the classic Osamu Tezuka comic series which first began as a Japanese manga, evolved into a cartoon premiering in the early '60s and was subsequently reimagined both in the '80s and, most recently, in 2003.

The story is set in futuristic Metro City, where humans and robots co-exist. The main character is a powerful young robot created by a brilliant scientist to replace his dead son.

The Variety report on the casting fails to specify which character Bell will voice.

Bell joins Nicolas Cage, Scarlett Johansson, Donald Sutherland, Bill Nighy, Nathan Lane and Eugene Levy in the project, set for worldwide release in 2009. The main character will be voiced by "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "August Rush" star Freddie Highmore.

Bell's credits range from "Veronica Mars" and "Heroes" on the small screen to "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and the upcoming "When in Rome" for the big screen.