Following his collaboration with metal band Mastodon on Jonah Hex, John Powell will work with latin legend Sérgio Mendes (”Mas que nada”) and rap star will.i.am on the music for Rio, the upcoming animated comedy from 20th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios. Powell’s involvement in the project doesn’t come as a surprise; he reunites with director Carlos Saldanha for whom he has scored three films (Robots, Ice Age: Meltdown and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs).

The decision to engage Brazilian jazz n’ bossa legend Mendes in the music team on this film is inspired and is of course completely logical given the film’s story, about a “nerdy macaw” from Minnesota who experiences the adventure of his life in Rio de Janeiro. Mendes and will.i.am have collborated before: Mendes played the piano on Black Eyed Peas’ hit song “Sexy” – and will.i.am subsequently produced Mendes’ album “Timeless” in 2006.

Rio is scheduled to come out in 2011. The voice so far includes Anne Hathaway and Neil Patrick Harris. Don Rhymer (Surf’s Up) is doing the screenplay and Christopher Jenkins produces.