AceShowbiz -

There have been no updates on the potential sequel project for "Finding Nemo" since the plan was announced in July last year. However, that doesn't mean the project is already dead since it is now confirmed that Albert Brooks has just closed a deal to join the sequel's voice cast ensemble.

Deadline breaks the news that Brooks will reprise his lead role as Marlin in the Finding Nemo sequel. He will join Ellen DeGeneres, who has already signed on to return as Dory. It took so long to seal Brooks back as the actor had been busy with his other film projects, including recently-released "This Is 40".

Apart from movie projects, Brooks has also been working on his new novel following the big success of "Twenty Thirty: The Real Story of What Happened to America". It is unclear when he will begin production with the "Finding Nemo 2" team as there are no other actors tapped to join the cast ensemble.

"Finding Nemo 2" will bring back Andrew Stanton to the directing seat. Rumor has it, Disney was willing to give Stanton another chance despite the fact that his last directorial stint, "John Carter", suffered a major box office flop earlier last year.

Words are, the 47-year-old director has already had a concept that the studio loves. Pixar, which developed the first film, hasn't commented on the progress of the reported sequel. Details of the sequel are also still kept under very tight wraps.

The original "Finding Nemo" had successfully grossed $867.9 million worldwide, making it Pixar's second-highest-grossing film and Disney's third-biggest animated film ever. The movie has also been re-released in 3D in September 2011.