From Alice to Addams.
Tim Burton, fresh from the success of his 3D adaptation of the beloved tale Alice in Wonderland, is now set to direct a 3D stop-motion film based on The Addams Family.
According to Deadline Hollywood, the animated film will be based on the original cartoon drawings by Charles Addams, and be completely unrelated to current incarnations of the iconic family.
The Addams Family was originally a single panel cartoon strip published in The New Yorker magazine between 1938 and 1988. They have since been adapted into other media, including a 60’s era TV program, two feature films in the 90’s directed by Barry Sonnefeld, and a musical currently playing on Broadway.
This new 3D project will be another jewel in Burton’s crown of stop-motion animation films. He is famous for writing and producing the cult classic The Nightmare Before Christmas, and co-directing The Corpse Bride. He also produced the last year’s computer animated film 9.
Illumination Entertainment, a family film unit owned by Universal and headed by Chris Meledandri, will produce The Addams Family. Burton will also act as an art director while the studio searches for a writer to develop the story.
Burton is also set to direct a remake of his 1984 short film Frankenweenie. The film – legend has it - lead to him fired from Walt Disney Pictures, after the studio claimed it was too scary for children. Ironically, Disney will be producing the new Frankenweenie remake, set for release November 2011.
The new 3D Addams Family flick is reportedly scheduled for release sometime in 2012. Should we expect Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter to be cast as lead characters in the next few months?
UPDATE, 3/20/10:
It may have been too good to be true.
MTV Online has reported that Tim Burton’s representatives have denied that the director will take part in an adaptation of The Addams Family.
“There is no truth to the story. Tim has not lined up any of his upcoming projects.” said an official statement from Burton’s reps.
Famous Monsters reported on the story on Thursday, when Deadline Hollywood announced that Tim Burton had been added to direct The Addams Family, to be produced by Illumination Entertainment.
Despite this, MTV is still optimistic that the Alice in Wonderland and Corpse Bride director will consider the project in the future, saying “There just haven’t been any decisions made yet.”
Burton may not be in the director’s chair, but so far Illumination Entertainment, headed by executive producer Chris Meledandri (Ice Age, Horton Hears a Who)has yet to confirm or deny that they are producing an Addams Family adaptation. The project itself might still have a chance.
Burton is also rumored to be attached to a Disney project involving the Sleeping Beauty villaness, Maleficent.
Stay tuned for more information.
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