When Puss in Boots: The Last Wish was released earlier in 2023, it was met with a lot of praise, which was a surprise to film fans. Dreamworks have been sort of hit-or-miss with many of their movies, and people certainly weren't expecting the sequel to a Shrek spin-off to be worth a trip to the theater. However, The Last Wish turned out to be a truly amazing work, from the gorgeous animation to the heartfelt story. As is tradition with the films in the Shrek universe, The Last Wish has a colorful cast of characters, most of whom hail from well-known fairytales.
One such character is the big bad villain of the film - Jack Horner. He is one of quite a few characters in the movie that are voiced by big-name actors. There are a lot of people who probably go into these kinds of animated movies without knowing who the cast is, which can lead to a few moments of trying to figure out if that voice belongs to who they think it does. Jack Horner in particular is voiced by a celebrity that's had a lot of media attention surrounding him in the past couple of years, and his voice was probably instantly recognizable to a big portion of the audience. So who is it that voices the villain of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish?
What is Puss in Boots: The Last Wish about?
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, as the title may suggest, follows Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas), the feline outlaw first introduced in Shrek 2. He has since been given his own spin-off universe, with two movies: Puss in Boots (2011) and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. In this sequel film, Puss realizes that his love of adventure has gone too far, as he's used up eight of his nine lives. He sets out on a quest to find the mythical Last Wish and get his lives back, risking being pursued by Death itself. However, the people he meets along the way teach him about the value of life, and how it's not something to be taken for granted.
Who Is Jack Horner In Puss in Boots: The Last Wish?
Jack Horner is one of the characters that presents an obstacle between Puss and his goals, and he is actually the main villain of the movie. He's based on the character from the nursery rhyme "Little Jack Horner", who famously stuck his thumb in a pie, pulled out a plum, and declared, "What a good boy am I!". In The Last Wish, Jack Horner is not a little boy, and is instead a pastry salesman and crime lord who wants to obtain the same Wishing Star that Puss is after in order to control all magic. He has a stash of magical fairytale items that he collected over the years, offended by how his claim to fame in the fairytale world was being called "Little" Jack Horner as a child. He's an arrogant manchild, towing a fine line between being ridiculous and being truly menacing.
Who plays Jack Horner in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish?
Jack Horner is voiced by John Mulaney in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Mulaney is a well-known comedian, who rose to internet fame in recent years with his Netflix comedy specials New in Town, The Comeback Kid, and Kid Gorgeous, all of which spawned a lot of oft-used memes. He was a prominent figure in comedy before that point as well, writing and performing on Saturday Night Live and even starring in a short-lived sitcom called Mulaney that was partially based on his real life. The Last Wish isn't Mulaney's first foray into voice work either, as he played Andrew Glouberman in Big Mouth, as well as Spider-Ham in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse.
Mulaney's background in comedy is perfect for the role of Jack Horner, as it fits nicely into the tone of the movie. He can pull off Horner's whiny, childish energy perfectly, making him seem like a big baby when he's not getting his way. However, he never quite loses the edge and constantly reminds the audience why this character is so feared by everyone around him. Mulaney has quite a distinct vocal tone and cadence, which is likely instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with his work. In theory, this might work against him as it would make him too recognizable, but he's able to play with his voice enough to make his characters feel different from each other. Jack Horner is a villain with a very distinct personality, and Mulaney's unique voice is a big part of what helps bring it to life.