The wait will soon be over for fans of “Astro Boy.” Summit Entertainment and Imagi Studios today announced the animated film is scheduled for release Oct. 23, 2009.

“A beloved icon for over half-a-century, this marks Astro Boy’s first time on the big screen, making our film one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year,” said President of Imagi Studios Erin Corbett.

Directed by David Bowers, the film is based on Osamu Tezuk’s popular manga and follows the adventures of a young robot created by a scientist to replace his late son.

Freddie Highmore, Nicholas Cage, Donald Sutherland, Bill Nighy, Eugene Levy and Nathan Lane provide the characters’ voices.