Watch Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey Chat Up 'Kubo and the Two Strings,' Tease 'Fast 8'

It took a few tries to get up and running — it’s all part of the fun and unpredictability of transmitting live — but we took to Facebook Live today for a sit-down with the voice stars of Kubo and the Two Strings, Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey (watch above).

The film comes to us from the stop-motion animation maestros at Laika, the studio behind Coraline, ParaNorman, and The Boxtrolls. It was the pedigree of those films, particularly Coraline, that lured these two Oscar winners to lend their voices. “I was a little late on them, but I was just so amazed by what they do,” said Theron. “I became a big of a fan. And I love that they’ve only made that many, and they’re all so consistent. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Kubo centers on the titular young Japanese boy who sets out on a quest to find magical armor after his remote village is decimated. On this journey of self-discovery he encounters Theron’s tempermental talking ape (simply known as Monkey) and McConaughey’s giant insect samurai (Beetle).

“I guess it was kind of on the bucket list, and I didn’t know it,” said McConaughey of starring in an animated feature. “I would’ve never come up with a samurai beetle, though. But it’s checked off now.”

Looking forward, we had to ask about Theron’s buzzed-about role in the upcoming sequel Fast 8. She wouldn’t say much, but she said something: “I can’t really, other than that I’m a villain, and I’m there to shake things up. I don’t want to give it away because there’s such a core audience with this franchise and I think they’re going to appreciate that we’re kind of holding back on talking about her too much. But hopefully they’ll be pleased.”

Kubo and the Two Strings opens Aug. 19. Watch the trailer: