EXCLUSIVE: Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias (Space Jam: A New Legacy), Diego Luna (Andor), Stephanie Beatriz (Zootopia 2) and Ron Perlman (Hellboy) are set to voice family animated film I, Chihuahua from filmmaker Jorge R. Gutiérrez (The Book of Life).

Rocket Science has boarded world sales and is launching for the Cannes market.

As we told you at the EFM, Gutiérrez parted ways with former backer Netflix and has set the project up with UK production outfit Snafu Pictures (Bad Dinosaurs).

I, Chihuahua is described as a high-energy love letter to Mexico’s Lucha Libre wrestling culture, told through the underdog rise of Chacho (voiced by comedian Iglesias), a diminutive, iron-willed chihuahua determined to prove he belongs in the ring.

Luna will voice Chacho’s stepdad and over-protective retired-fighter Juan, whilst Beatriz is Xochi, Chacho’s musically gifted best friend and sidekick, and Perlman will partner with Gutiérrez as the ringside double act Rock Powers and Tony Tijuana.

The Indian animation company Assemblage (Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie) has also boarded the project as the animation production partner.

Dan Dixon and Paul Schleicher of Snafu Pictures produce, as does Gutiérrez, and EP is Alex Garcia Najera. Based on an original idea Gutierrez developed with Iglesias, the screenplay is co-written by Gutierrez and Doug and Candie Langdale (The Book of Life).

Jorge R. Gutiérrez said: “I, Chihuahua is pure corazón for me! It’s a film about identity, family, lucha, and the power in all of us underdogs. Chacho may be small, but his spirit and heart are gigantic. To have Fluffy, Diego, Stephanie and Ron bring this amazing world to life is an absolute dream. I don’t want to overpromise, but… THIS WILL BE THE GREATEST LUCHA MOVIE EVER MADE!”

Thorsten Schumacher of Rocket Science said ‘I, Chihuahua is a charming, funny and inspiring blend of the anthropomorphic animal world (Zootopia), sports underdog movie (The Karate Kid) and the greatest ‘fight’ stories (Rocky). We’re delighted to be working with visionary filmmaker Jorge R Gutierrez, who has assembled an incredible cast.”