Whoopi Goldberg and Keith David are preparing for superhero duty. The two acclaimed stars are leading a new superhero movie. They will lend their voices to Captain Zero, a feature expansion of the award-winning animated short.
The project comes from filmmaker Z Cher-Aimé and Black-owned Cutting Edge Animation. It follows a superpowered teenager facing depression while trying to stop a dangerous cyber stalker.
Goldberg serves as an executive producer alongside Tom Leonardis through One Ho Productions. David joins the voice cast as the Depression Demon, a role he previously played in the short.
The star power is only part of what makes Captain Zero: Into the Abyss stand out
Beyond its notable voice talent, the project stands out for its 2D animation and focus on mental health, self-worth, and empowerment. It follows Haitian-American teenager Xerxes Hughes as he manages his secret identity alongside everyday struggles.
Xerxes faces W.Z.R.D., a homicidal cyber stalker determined to destroy him and his city. He must also confront the living embodiment of his depression, giving the story both a physical and emotional conflict.
The feature builds on two successful shorts from the Captain Zero universe. Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part II premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, where David appeared alongside Angelica Ross and Zolee Griggs.
Cher-Aimé has spent about a decade developing the Captain Zero universe. The filmmaker previously created two shorts and built an audience around the character before expanding the story into a feature.
The feature is co-directed by Cher-Aimé and Andre Carl Engco. Cutting Edge Animation describes it as a 2D animated action-drama currently in pre-production.
The production also emphasizes BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ representation behind and in front of the project. Its creators are using traditional 2D animation rather than AI-generated animation for the feature.
The earlier Captain Zero short has also received industry recognition. It earned a 2026 NAACP Image Award nomination and multiple Telly honors.
Originally reported on SuperHeroHype.