James Corden said his eight-year quest to feature Rihanna on “Carpool Karaoke” finally paid off—just not in the driver’s seat of his former Late Late Show segment. Speaking at the world premiere of the new animated “Smurfs” film, Corden explained that the singer repeatedly promised to join the sketch once she had new material to promote, but the CBS show ended in 2023 before her long-awaited album appeared. Instead, the pair have recorded a duet for “Smurfs,” opening in European cinemas on 16 July and in U.S. theaters on 18 July. Rihanna, who voices Smurfette and serves as a producer, contributes the new single “Friend of Mine” and at least one additional song to the soundtrack. Corden voices Smurfette’s ally No Name Smurf, giving him the musical collaboration he had pursued since 2015.