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The new animated filmGOATfollows a teenage goat who dreams of becoming a professional roarball player, which is similar to basketball, but played in dangerous, ever-changing arenas.
On top of having a lot of heart and humor, the movie is notable for its outstanding voice cast. From Oscar winners to professional basketball players, the cast is stacked with GOATs (Greatests of All Time).
Leading the cast isCaleb McLaughlinin his first major role sinceStranger Thingsconcluded in December 2025. He's joined by a wide range of talented figures, from actors likeJennifer HudsonandNick Krollto basketball pros likeStephen Curry.
The film even stars husband-wife duoDwyane WadeandGabrielle Union. Since Wade is a former NBA player for the Miami Heat, Union toldCBS Morningthat she used him as a reference when creating her character.
"I studied my husband, and I studied LeBron," she said. "I studied Teresa Weatherspoon, Dawn Staley. I tried to get a lot of how they play, how they were, how they play bigger than they were."
Here, see theGOATcast side-by-side with the characters they play.
Caleb McLaughlin as Will Harris
McLaughlin plays the teenage goat Will, who joins the Thorns, an underdog roarball team. With dedication and help from his team, he becomes a true GOAT of the game.
Most viewers will recognize McLaughlin best for starring as Lucas inStranger Things, which wrapped up at the end of 2025.
On top of the Netflix sci-fi series, McLaughlin has also starred in movies likeThe Book of Clarence(2023) andThe Deliverance(2024).
Gabrielle Union as Jett Fillmore
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Union plays Jett Fillmore, a giant black panther who is currently the Thorns' star player.
Her career began decades before joining theGOATcast, and she's starred in hit movies like10 Things I Hate About You(1999) andBring It On(2000), and she led the BET seriesBeing Mary Janefrom 2013 to 2019.
Outside of acting, she's married to Wade, and together they have adaughter, Kaavia. Union also considers herself a parent toWade's other kids, Dahveon, Zaire, Zaya and Xavier.
Aaron Pierre as Mane Attraction
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Aaron Pierreplays a horse named Mane Attraction, who is the league's MVP and star player of team Magma.
Pierre's first major role came in 2018 when he starred in the Syfy seriesKrypton, which tells the story of Superman's grandfather. He also voiced Mufasa in 2024'sMufasa: The Lion Kingand has a few major upcoming projects, including the DC superhero showLanterns(2026) and the 2027 Star Wars film,Starfighter.
Pierre has a son and was last romantically linked to actressTeyana Taylor.
Nicola Coughlan as Olivia
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Nicola Coughlanportrays Olivia, an ostrich who plays for the Thorns.
She is best known for starring in the hit Netflix romanceBridgerton(2020-Present), and before that she had her breakout role in the Irish comedy seriesDerry Girls(2018-2022).
Bridgertonisn't the only place Coughlan found love, either. Off-screen, she's been in a relationship withactor Jake Dunnsince 2024.
David Harbour as Archie
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McLaughlin isn't the onlyStranger Thingsalum in theGOATcast.David Harbourportrays the rhino Archie, a single dad who also plays for the Thorns.
On top of playing Eleven's father figure inStranger Things, Harbour is best known for portraying Alexei Shostakov in the Marvel filmsBlack Widow(2021) andThunderbolts(2025).
In 2025, Harbour faced several allegations of misconduct.
First, in October his ex-wife,Lily Allen, releasedher hit albumWest End Girl, which chronicled her unhealthy marriage to Harbour and seemingly accused him of cheating. Then in November, reports suggested that hisStranger Thingscostar Millie Bobby Brown had allegedly fileda complaint about on-set bullyingagainst him.
He attended some, but not all,Stranger Thingsseason 5 premiere events and he and Brown posed for photos together. Harbour has not explicitly commented on the allegations and his reps did not respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment at the time.
Nick Kroll as Modo
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Comedian Nick Kroll portrays the Komodo dragon Modo, who plays for the Thorns.
Kroll started his career as a stand-up and comedy writer, and he's starred in hit series likeThe League(2009-2015). He also had tons of voice roles before joining theGOATcast, including starring inBig Mouth(2017-2025), voicing Gunter in theSingfranchise (2016-2021) and Uncle Fester in the animatedAddams Familyfilms (2019-2021).
Off-screen, he's married to Lily Kwong, andthe couple have two kids, a son and a daughter.
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Stephen Curry as Lenny
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NBA star Curry portrays Lenny, a giraffe who plays for the Thorns.
Since 2009, Curry has played for the Golden State Warriors. He's a four-time NBA Champion and scored two consecutive MVP awards in 2015 and 2016.
As an athlete himself, Curry told PEOPLE thathe relates to the story and themes inGOAT. "I relate to the entire story ofGOATbecause a lot of my journey resembles Will's journey." He continued, "Obviously, it's about the power of a team too. No matter what walk of life, you can't do anything great without the people around you.
Off-screen (and off the court), Curry is married to chefAyesha Curry, andthey have four kids: Riley, Ryan, Canon and Caius.
Jennifer Hudson as Louise
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Hudson plays Louise, Will's late mom. He uses her memory and teachings to give himself motivation and confidence.
While she's famous for many films and series, Hudson's biggest achievement is becomingone of just 22 people everto obtain EGOT status – earning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award.
Hudson achieved this lofty title thanks toBaby Yaga(Emmy), her self-titled albumJennifer Hudson(Grammy),Dreamgirls(Oscar) andA Strange Loop(Tony).
On top of her wins, Hudson is also known for getting her start on the third season ofAmerican Idol, where she made it to the Top 7, and since 2022, she's hosted her own talk show,The Jennifer Hudson Show.
Hudson confirmedher relationship with rapper Commonin 2024 though the pair had already been linked for years. The singer is also a mom to sonDavid Daniel Otunga Jr., whom she welcomed in 2009.
Jenifer Lewis as Florence
Julian Hamilton/FilmMagic; Sony Pictures Animation
Jenifer Lewisportrays the warthog Florence, who owns the Thorns.
She has been starring in film and television since the '80s and is known for leading roles in shows likeStrong Medicine(2000-2006) andblack-ish(2014-2022), and movies likeSister Act(1992) andThe Princess and the Frog(2009).
Lewis is also a celebrated writer thanks to her Book of the Year-winning memoir,The Mother of Black Hollywood(2018), and her essay collection,Walking in my Joy: In These Streets(2022).
Off-screen, she has a daughter named Charmaine.
Patton Oswalt as Dennis
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ComedianPatton Oswaltplays Dennis, a stern proboscis monkey who is the Thorns' coach.
Oswalt is a widely accomplished comedian; his stand-up specials have earned him three Emmy nominations (winning once), and his comedy albums have scored him seven Grammy nominations (also winning once).
He's also a respected character actor who has held roles on tons of hit shows, likeThe King of Queens(1998-2007),United States of Tara(2009-2011),Veep(2015-2019) andThe Sandman(2022-2025).
Oswalt ismarried to actress Meredith Salenger. Together they raise Oswalt'sdaughter, Alice, whom he welcomed with his first wife, Michelle McNamara, before herdeath in 2016.
Sherry Cola as Hannah
Maya Dehlin Spach/FilmMagic; Sony Pictures Animation
Sherry Colaplays Hannah, a fun and loving aardwolf who is Will's friend.
Cola is a stand-up comedian who had her big break in Hollywood on the showGood Trouble(2019-2024). Since then, she's starred in comedies likeJoy Ride(2023) and has been on the hit Netflix showNobody Wants Thissince 2024.
Off-screen, Cola is in a relationship with fellow actress Marisela Zumbado.
Wayne Knight as Frank
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Wayne Knightplays Frank, a grumpy gerbil who is Will's landlord.
He is best remembered forplaying Newman onSeinfeld(1992-1998), and for starring inJurassic Park(1993) andThird Rock from the Sun(1996-2001).
The actor has been married to Clare Knight since 2006. The couple share a son named Liam.
Angel Reese as Propp
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WNBA playerAngel Reeseportrays Propp, a polar bear who plays for team Shivers.
Reese is a professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky. She also has a burgeoning modeling career, appearing on the cover ofVogueandwalking the runwayas an angel for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
In November 2025, NBA player Wendell Carter Jr.confirmed that he and Reese were dating.
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