USA Today | Joe Manganiello, Jack McBrayer are new blue crew in 'Smurfs'

Joe Manganiello has had some Smurf work done.

The Magic Mike star is now showing blue skin as Hefty in the upcoming animated adventure Smurfs: The Lost Village. The newly titled, fully animated film hits theaters March 31, 2017.

Manganiello's Hefty (doing the heavy lifting) joins his new Smurf screen brothers — 30 Rock star Jack McBrayer as Clumsy (falling off the wagon) and Community star Danny Pudi as the bespectacled Smurf geek Brainy.

Smurfs: The Lost Village, 2017

The new crew is part of the previously announced cast which includes Demi Lovato as Smurfette, Rainn Wilson as the evil Gargamel and Mandy Patinkin as Papa Smurf. Smurfette sets the action in motion as she searches for a legendary Smurf village, bringing along her brothers Hefty, Clumsy and Brainy.

The beloved blue Smurfs have been box-office giants to the tune of $911 million worldwide with 2011's The Smurfs ($563.7 million) and 2013's The Smurfs 2 ($347.5 million). In the past movies, which featured partial live action, Fred Armisen voiced Brainy, Gary Basaraba voiced Hefty and Anton Yelchin voiced Clumsy.

Lost Village director Kelly Asbury describes Hefty as "sort of the personal trainer Smurf of the group" and also promises a hint of Smurf romance.

"He's very protective of them all, especially Smurfette, for whom he carries a not-so-secret puppy-love torch," says Asbury.

While Hefty stays away from the raunchy dance moves that the 6-foot-5 Manganiello shows off in Magic Mike, he is shirtless as a Smurf. And there were some adjustments to the character.

"We've designed Hefty to have slightly bulkier arms, and he can flex his biceps — Hefty Smurf has guns," Asbury says. "He also walks with a rather puffed-up, confident posture."

Manganiello brought his own confidence and used a "heftier, energetic version of his natural voice, which is perfect," Asbury says.

The Smurfs use their individual skills to outwit the evil Gargamel while searching for the fabled village. But the journey will result, no spoiler alert needed, in one happy, blue conclusion.

"It will lead to the greatest discovery in all," says Asbury. "Smurfdom."

See full article in USA Today.