DreamWorks has tapped commercial director Noam Murro to direct the sequel to the $129 million surprise hit, THE RING, reported VARIETY. The original film’s star Naomi Watts has already signed on to reprise her role. The film should start filming in January and is scheduled to hit theaters Nov. 10, 2004.

After breaking the box office record for animation, Disney/Pixar's beloved FINDING NEMO (Walt Disney Home Video, $29.99) sets its sights on a DVD record as well, streeting Nov. 4, 2003. The two-disc set of Pixar's computer-animated phenomenon not only looks and sounds digitally great, as you would expect, but the extras just keep getting better and better, thanks in large part to Bill Kinder, who has produced Pixar's DVDs since A BUG'S LIFE. They are witty, inventive and always informative.

Adam Sandler's first animated foray, EIGHT CRAZY NIGHTS, comes to DVD (Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, $26.95) Nov. 4, 2003, with lots of Sandler bonuses underlying the somewhat autobiographical holiday riff.

Originally written for SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, Sandler's new version of his beloved and nearly classic Chanukah song, specially written for the movie and coupled with his talent to voice multiple characters, makes for a kosher comedy this season.

Right upon the heals of MGM’s announcement that it has enlisted Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes to remake THE AMITYVILLE HORROR, Dimension Films plans to produce a film based on the life of George Lutz, who lived in the real Long Island haunted house, which the 1979 film was based on, reported VARIETY. Dimension obtained Lutz’s life rights and a finished script from Nu Image. The film is scheduled to hit theaters early next summer.

The simultaneous release of Warner Bros.' THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS on Nov. 5, 2003 in 35mm and IMAX/15/70 represents a first for a live-action Hollywood film and the prestigious large format corporation, which is attempting to increase both its commercial appeal and profitability as a result of its aggressive repurposing strategy.

Cutting Edge VFX of Australia (www.cuttingedge.com) recently completed the animated opening and closing credits for Disney's just-released DVD premiere GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE 2 (Walt Disney Home Entertainment, $29.99).

While Dimension's SCARY MOVIE 3 barely kept its hold on first place for the Halloween weekend ended Nov. 2, 2003, Disney's BROTHER BEAR, despite only two days of expanding nationwide, finished second, gathering a huggable $19.4M. With a per screen average of $6,404, BROTHER BEAR has now risen to $19.8M, making a good case for traditional animation given the right vehicle.

Warner Bros. Pictures has tapped scribes Matthew Berry and Eric Abrams (CROCODILE DUNDEE IN LOS ANGELES) to write a live-action feature based on Cartoon Network's JOHNNY BRAVO, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, reported VARIETY. Original Film's Neal Moritz and Marty Adelstein will produce, with show creator Van Partible attached as exec producer. Overseeing the film will be Original's Tania Landau and WB's Greg Silverman and Alicia Cotter. The plot will follow Johnny on his journey to find his estranged father.

North Carlina-based indie filmmakers Brett Ingram (director, co-producer, co-editor) and Jim Haverkamp (co-producer, co-editor) are profiling underground clay and line animator Bruce Bickford in a new documentary titled MONSTER ROAD. Bickford is best known for the dark and magical animations he did for musician Frank Zappa in the 1970s, and has been doing independent work since then, almost all of which has never been released.

The long in-development film adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s children’s book classic WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE has been assigned by Universal to director Spike Jonze (ADAPTATION), reported VARIETY. Tom Hanks’ Playtone production house has long been developing the film as a CGI project, but Universal agreed to go live-action upon hearing Jonze’s vision. Originally animation vet Eric Goldberg (ALADDIN) was attached to direct, but he left to go work on LOONEY TUNES: BACK IN ACTION after WILD THINGS seemed to be stalling.

Renowned anime director Satoshi Kon’s critically acclaimed, award-winning second feature, MILLENNIUM ACTRESS, makes its highly anticipated debut on DVD on Oct 28, 2003 (DreamWorks Home Entertainment, $19.99). The movie showcases Kon’s starting visual style and unique storyline by seamlessly blending fantasy and reality, memory and perception, into an epic adventure of fate, destiny and the history of Japanese cinema.

Finally, the long-awaited THE LOONEY TUNES GOLDEN COLLECTION (Warner Home Video, $64.92) hits DVD Oct. 28, 2003 with thunderous, anvil-dropping fanfare. 56 classic Warner Bros. shorts, restored and remastered uncut to a bright and shiny Technicolor glory, thanks to the patience and prodding of historian Jerry Beck, who aided in the production of this indispensable four-disc set.

Ang Lee’s controversial, angst-ridden adaptation of the popular Marvel comic, HULK, premieres Oct. 28, 2003 on DVD (Universal Home Entertainment, $26.98). The complex, tragic story aside (the scientific sins of the father are truly visited on the son), there’s the more intriguing issue of Industrial Light & Magic’s CG work on the Hulk to reconsider. No matter what your views on the aesthetic choices, the technical advances in character animation make the Hulk a marvel to watch.

Oscar-nominated actors Helena Bonham-Carter and Ralph Fiennes have signed on to lend their voices to THE WALLACE AND GROMIT MOVIE, reported Channel 4 News. Bonham-Carter will voice new character Lady Tottington and Fiennes will give life to Lord Victor Quatermaine. Aardman Animations will begin production on the film, subtitled CURSE OF THE WERERABBIT, this week for a scheduled 18-month production slate.

While Dimension's SCARY MOVIE 3 debuted in the top spot for the pre-Halloween weekend ended Oct. 26, 2003, scaring up $48.1M, the real story was Disney's BROTHER BEAR platforming in two theaters in Los Angeles and New York. The studio's second to last traditionally animated feature for the foreseeable future growled its way to $291,940, for an astounding per-screen average of $145,970. BROTHER BEAR should have a more formidable gross when it opens wide next weekend.

Artisan Entertainment has announced that upcoming release on August 27, 2004 of the feature film rendition of Marvel Comics’ MAN-THING. Produced by Marvel Studios and Fierce Entertainment in association with German equity fund Screenland Movieworld, the film just wrapped production after an eight-week shoot in Sydney, Australia. Effects pioneer Brett Leonard (THE LAWNMOWER MAN, T-REX BACK TO THE CRETACEOUS) directed the film. Hans Rodionoff (THE HOLLOW) adapted the comic for the screen.

Sony Pictures Animation confirms that it is proceeding with feature plans for its Oscar-winning animated short film THE CHUBBCHUBBS!, by Eric Armstrong, along with production of a follow-up short for theatrical distribution next summer. The computer-animated feature about an intergalactic janitor-turned singer that hooks up with the Chubbchubbs to save the universe will be penned by Dan Wilson and Dave Gilbreth (SMART AND SMARTER). A director is still being sought for the feature.

Digital Production Solutions (DPS), the animation unit of IDT Media, has entered into a production services agreement with German-based Berlin Animation Film (BAF) as the sole animator of HAPPILY N'EVER AFTER, a computer-animated feature that reworks classic Grimm Bros.’ fairy tales.

The highly anticipated DVD release of CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE streets Oct. 21, 2003 in both theatrical and un-rated versions (Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, $27.94). Directed once again by McG and starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu, the sequel capitalizes on more creative stunts, sexy costumes and a pulsating soundtrack.

Videovision Entertainment has acquired worldwide distribution rights to THE LEGEND OF THE SKY KINGDOM. The film is the first animated feature produced in Africa and created using a method dubbed Junkmation, which employs found junk to create characters and sets. The film tells the story of a group of children who escape a cruel orphanage and embark on a quest to find the fabled Sky Kingdom. Roger Hawkins directed the film with Phillip Cunningham producing and Minali De Silva handling art direction.