In Back to the Outback, a ragtag crew of adorable yet deadly misfit creatures escapes from an Australian zoo and makes its way to a place each one can finally call home. If you’re watching the movie and recognize the zookeeper’s Australian accent or the voice of the talking snake, it’s probably because the cast is stacked with star power. The animated adventure comedy’s ensemble includes an Oscar nominee, a YouTuber with millions of followers and a Grammy winner. Check out the list below to see where you’ve heard their slithering and squawking before.
Isla Fisher is Maddie, the venomous snake with a heart of gold. Maddie is so excited for her first show at the zoo, but when the audience is fearful of her and treats her terribly, Maddie looks for a way out of the zoo and back to her home, the Outback.
Fisher, an Australia native and mom of three, has appeared in romantic comedies like Confessions of a Shopaholic and Wedding Crashers, and although she lends her voice to this kid-friendly adventure, adults can also find her in the R-rated films Nocturnal Animals and Life of Crime.
Tim Minchin is Pretty Boy, the adorable koala and star of the show at the Australian Wildlife Park, with a bit of an attitude. After getting taken on the unexpected adventure to the Outback, Pretty Boy learns a valuable lesson in friendship.
Minchin is an Australian comedian and composer known for his work in Matilda: The Musical (coming soon to Netflix). Adults can laugh along with the comedian in his two stand-up comedy specials, Tim Minchin So F—ing Rock and Tim Minchin and the Heritage Orchestra, which are streaming on Netflix right now.
Eric Bana is Chaz Hunt, the Animal Events Coordinator at the zoo who loves a good show, even if that means not treating his animals in the kindest way. After the group of friends leaves the zoo, it’s up to Chaz to hunt them down and bring them back to their cages, but it proves to be more of a challenge than he realized.
Australian actor Bana is known for his diverse roles in television and film. You can see him as con-man “Dirty” John Meehan in Season 1 of Dirty John, or if you’re more interested in fantasy fare, he stars in King Arthur Legend of the Sword, about a streetwise misfit who accepts his destiny as a future king. If you’re looking for a laugh, watch Special Correspondents, a witty satire about a bickering radio team, or catch him in something a little more dramatic, like The Forgiven, about archbishop Desmond Tutu working with a killer to help solve the murder of a teenage girl.
Miranda Tapsell is Zoe, the thorny lizard who is a master at quick escapes and planning her way out of tricky situations. You can catch Tapsell, who’s Australian, in the animated outing The Wishmas Tree.
Guy Pearce is Frank, a funnel-web spider going through the thick of mating season and in search of a partner to, well, mate with.
In The Seventh Day, Pearce stars as Father Peter, a renowned exorcist looking to stop the demonic possession of a young boy. He also stars in Lawless as a deputy hunting down moonshiners. Pearce also turns up in the Netflix series The Innocents, about two teens who find themselves on a dangerous path, and for a good laugh, check him out in the quirky comedy Results, about a divorcee and fitness trainer who finds himself developing a unique relationship with the owner of the gym.
Angus Imrie is Nigel, a mild-mannered scorpion whose stinger comes in handy when it comes time to wrangle Pretty Boy.
The English actor has starred in a number of titles in the UK, like Emma and The Kid Who Would Be King. But you can also catch Imrie on Netflix, starring in Season 4 of The Crown, playing the Queen’s youngest son, Prince Edward.
Jacki Weaver is Jackie, the crocodile and mother figure of the Danger House, who takes care of the animals and helps soothe them to sleep with her tales of the Outback. It’s a role not dissimilar to others she’s played over the years.
You’ve likely seen the Oscar-nominated actor, in such films as Silver Linings Playbook, in which she plays Pat’s mother, Delores Solitano, or alongside Sandra Bullock in Bird Box. You may also love Weaver’s roles in the romantic drama Irreplaceable You,the true-life comedy Polka King or the family drama Penguin Bloom.
Wayne Knight is Phil, a platypus who helps the gang on its journey to the Outback. It’s highly likely you’ve seen Knight in Seinfeld, playing Jerry’s mailman and sworn nemesis, Newman.
Lachlan Ross Power is a Tasmanian Devil who helps save the gang from a tricky situation on its way to the Outback. Video game lovers will recognize Power, a video game YouTuber with over 14 million subscribers under his channel name Lachlan.
Keith Urban is Doug, a cane toad with a knack for singing. If Doug’s crooning sounds familiar, it’s because his voice belongs to Urban, the Australian country singer who’s behind such hits as “Somebody Like You” and “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”
Composite illustration credits: John Shearer/Getty Images for CMA; Gary Mitchell/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images; Mike Marsland/WireImage; Amy Sussman/Getty Images for BAFTA LA; Andrew Lipovsky/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Netflix; Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage
