JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE - TIMBERLAKE TO STAR IN NEW SHREK

TIMBERLAKE TO STAR IN NEW SHREK

Justin Timberlake will star in the third instalment of the Shrek franchise as Princess Fiona's teenage cousin Artie.

Shrek the Third is one of the summer's most highly-anticipated films and Timberlake will be a central character in the digital fantasy saga.

The pop star turned actor said: "Voice acting is so different from any other type of acting. You imagine what your character is going to look and sound like, so your energy is greater than it would normally be."

The third Shrek film sees Mike Myers' loveable ogre married to Princess Fiona, which Cameron Diaz provides the voice for.

But Shrek's happiness is soon put to the test when his father-in-law falls ill and he must find an heir to the monarchy quick or risk swapping his loveable ogre swamp for a throne in the palace of Far, Far Away.

Eddie Murphy's Donkey is back, as is Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots. Also included in the production is John Krasinski, who starred in the US version of The Office and Monty Python stars John Cleese and Eric Idle.

Shrek the Third's director Chris Miller first thought of Timberlake for the role after being impressed by his guest appearance on Saturday Night Live.

"Justin has a certain charm. He is a very natural comedian and the more we interacted with him, the more the character of Artie became like Justin," the director said.

Shrek the Third is released in the UK on June 29th.