<P> The lead voice actors were approached in 2009 . Jemaine Clement was approached to do the film after seeing test shots of his character Nigel doing a speech from Flight of the Conchords , which was done prior to a script being finalized . Neil Patrick Harris was supposed to voice Blu , but had other commitments outside production ; he was later replaced by Jesse Eisenberg . Eisenberg was asked during the filming of The Social Network if he would do his voice recording on the weekends , and he agreed after reading the script , saying : `` It was the perfect antidote to get out of the mindset of my character in Social Network who was so severe , and in some ways so joyless . '' </P>
<P> The lead voice actors were approached in 2009 . Jemaine Clement was approached to do the film after seeing test shots of his character Nigel doing a speech from Flight of the Conchords , which was done prior to a script being finalized . Neil Patrick Harris was supposed to voice Blu , but had other commitments outside production ; he was later replaced by Jesse Eisenberg . Eisenberg was asked during the filming of The Social Network if he would do his voice recording on the weekends , and he agreed after reading the script , saying : `` It was the perfect antidote to get out of the mindset of my character in Social Network who was so severe , and in some ways so joyless . '' </P>
who does the voice of blue in rio
who does the voice of blue in rio
Jesse Eisenberg
Jesse Eisenberg