The Two Distinct Voice Casts Of The Croods: Where Are The Stars Now?

The prehistoric world of The Croods franchise is brought to life by a surprisingly complex ensemble of voice talent, featuring not one, but two distinct casts across its cinematic and television universes. As of December 2025, fans are still captivated by the vocal performances that define the Crood family’s journey from a dark cave to the dazzling, "modern" world, but many are unaware that the stars they know from the blockbuster films—Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, and Ryan Reynolds—actually passed the torch to a new group of seasoned voice actors for the long-running animated series, The Croods: Family Tree.

This dual-cast approach is a fascinating element of the franchise’s legacy, providing a unique blend of A-list star power for the big screen and dedicated voice-acting expertise for the small screen. Understanding who voiced whom, and why the switch occurred for the television spinoff, is key to appreciating the full scope of this beloved DreamWorks Animation property, which concluded its television run with an eighth and final season in late 2023.

The A-List Voices: The Croods & The Croods: A New Age Cast

The two feature films, The Croods (2013) and its sequel, The Croods: A New Age (2020), boast one of the most star-studded voice ensembles in modern animation. This cast was instrumental in defining the characters' personalities, with their recognizable voices lending immediate weight and humor to the prehistoric family's antics.

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Nicolas Cage as Grug Crood

• Character Role: The well-meaning, overprotective patriarch of the Crood family, Grug is defined by his fear of the new and his iconic, booming voice.
• Actor Profile: Nicolas Cage is an Academy Award-winning actor known for his highly expressive and often eccentric performances in films like Leaving Las Vegas, Face/Off, and National Treasure. His distinct vocal delivery made Grug's caveman grunts and worried shouts instantly memorable.
• Recent Work: Cage continues his prolific career with recent roles in films such as Renfield and Dream Scenario, showcasing his enduring versatility long after his tenure as Grug concluded.

Emma Stone as Eep Crood

• Character Role: Grug's adventurous, rebellious teenage daughter who longs for freedom and a life beyond the cave. She is the romantic lead opposite Guy.
• Actor Profile: Emma Stone is an Academy Award-winning actress celebrated for her roles in La La Land, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Cruella. Her voice brings a perfect blend of spunk, curiosity, and teenage angst to Eep.
• Recent Work: Stone has continued to garner critical acclaim, most recently winning an Academy Award for her performance in Poor Things, solidifying her status as one of Hollywood's elite performers.

Ryan Reynolds as Guy

• Character Role: A resourceful, intelligent, and more "modern" cave-boy who introduces the Croods to concepts like fire and shoes. He is Eep’s love interest.
• Actor Profile: Ryan Reynolds is a globally recognized actor, producer, and entrepreneur, famous for his quick wit and comedic timing in franchises like Deadpool. His smooth, charismatic voice perfectly suits Guy's innovative and charming personality.
• Recent Work: Reynolds remains one of the busiest actors in Hollywood, starring in and producing numerous high-profile projects, including the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine.

The Core Crood Family Ensemble

• Catherine Keener as Ugga Crood: The pragmatic and supportive matriarch of the family. Keener is a two-time Oscar nominee known for her subtle, powerful performances.
• Clark Duke as Thunk Crood: The dim-witted but lovable middle child. Duke is a comedian and actor known for his roles in Hot Tub Time Machine and The Office.
• Cloris Leachman as Gran: The feisty, nearly immortal grandmother. Leachman was a legendary, Oscar and Emmy-winning actress; The Croods: A New Age was one of her final film roles before her passing in 2021.

The Betterman Family: New Voices in A New Age

The Croods: A New Age introduced the sophisticated Betterman family, who live in a walled paradise and represent a major step in human evolution—or so they think. Their arrival brought in three major new stars to the Croods voice cast, creating a dynamic clash of cultures that drove the sequel’s plot.

Peter Dinklage as Phil Betterman

• Character Role: The overly-confident and self-proclaimed "better" father figure, Phil Betterman.
• Actor Profile: Peter Dinklage is an Emmy and Golden Globe winner, best known for his iconic role as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones. His voice brings a mix of intellectual arrogance and hidden insecurity to Phil.

Leslie Mann as Hope Betterman

• Character Role: Phil's equally smug and seemingly perfect wife, Hope Betterman.
• Actor Profile: Leslie Mann is a renowned comedic actress from films like Knocked Up and This Is 40. Her voice perfectly captures Hope’s passive-aggressive, high-society demeanor.

Kelly Marie Tran as Dawn Betterman

• Character Role: The Bettermans' sheltered daughter who quickly befriends Eep.
• Actor Profile: Kelly Marie Tran gained international fame as Rose Tico in the Star Wars sequel trilogy and also voiced the lead character in Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon. Her voice conveys Dawn's initial shyness and eventual adventurous spirit.

The Television Voice Shift: Why The Croods: Family Tree Cast Is Different

When DreamWorks Animation launched the animated series The Croods: Family Tree on Hulu and Peacock, a significant change occurred that often confuses fans of the movies. The series, which had its final season premiere in late 2023, features a completely different set of voice actors for the main Crood family, a common practice in animated television spin-offs due to budget, scheduling, and the different expertise required for continuous episodic recording.

This new cast is composed of highly experienced voice-over specialists who are masters of capturing the established essence of the characters while committing to the long-term demands of a TV production schedule. This is where the true depth of voice acting talent for the franchise resides.

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The New Crood Family Voice Cast (The Croods: Family Tree)

• Kiff VandenHeuvel as Grug Crood: Taking over for Nicolas Cage, VandenHeuvel is a veteran voice actor and improvisational comedy teacher, known for his versatile work in video games and television. His ability to match Grug’s signature sound while giving a consistent performance across dozens of episodes is a testament to his skill.
• Amy Landecker as Ugga Crood: Landecker, known for her live-action roles in Transparent, stepped into the role of Ugga, previously voiced by Catherine Keener. Landecker has an extensive background in voice work, including roles in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, making her a perfect fit for the matriarch.
• Ally Dixon as Eep Crood: Dixon replaced Emma Stone, bringing a fresh, energetic voice to Eep’s teenage rebellion and exploration.
• Darin Brooks as Guy: Brooks, an Emmy-winning actor known for his work on soap operas, took over the role of Guy from Ryan Reynolds, maintaining the character's charming, inventive nature.
• Artemis Pebdani as Gran: Pebdani, a well-known actress and comedian, took on the challenging task of voicing the iconic Gran, following the late Cloris Leachman.

The Dawn Betterman Voice Transition

The character of Dawn Betterman also saw a voice change within the series itself. While Kelly Marie Tran reprised her movie role for the first four seasons of The Croods: Family Tree, the role was later taken over by voice actress Abby Trott for seasons five through eight. This type of mid-series recasting can occur for various reasons, including scheduling conflicts or the actor's availability, but both actresses successfully maintained the character's sweet and sheltered demeanor.

Topical Authority: The Voice Acting Difference

The distinction between the movie and TV casts highlights a crucial difference in the entertainment industry: the casting of a "star voice" versus a "career voice actor." For the films, the star power of actors like Nicolas Cage and Ryan Reynolds is used to draw audiences. Their fame is as important as their performance.

Conversely, the television series relies on the consistent, high-quality performance of voice specialists like Kiff VandenHeuvel and Amy Landecker. These actors are experts in vocal technique, recording efficiency, and maintaining character continuity over many episodes—skills that are essential for the rigorous schedule of an animated series. The fact that The Croods: Family Tree ran for eight successful seasons proves that the new voice cast successfully embodied the prehistoric family, allowing the story and characters to thrive even without the big-name Hollywood stars.

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The success of the DreamWorks Animation franchise, from the original 2013 film to the final season of the Croods: Family Tree series, is a tribute to the dedicated talent of every single actor—whether a Hollywood A-lister or a dedicated voice-over professional—who lent their unique sound to the beloved Crood family and the innovative Betterman family.