Nickelodeon Movies has announced a stellar CG and live-action production slate, featuring Hollywood heavyweights like Will Smith, Jim Carrey, Jude Law, Meryl Streep, Scarlett Johansson, Alec Baldwin; directors John Woo (MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2) and John Schultz (LIKE MIKE); along with writers Steve Oedekerk (BRUCE ALMIGHTY) and David Berenbaum (ELF).
Joining the of THE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE will be Scarlett Johansson, Jeffrey Tambor and Alec Baldwin as the voices of Mindy, King Neptune and Dennis. The other films listed as in production include the film adaptation of LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, starring Jim Carrey, Jude Law and Meryl Streep and directed by Brad Silberling. Based on the popular children's series of books, Nick Movies hopes to make this its HARRY POTTER.
Also in production is THE BARNYARD, a new CG feature from screenwriter/director Steve Oedekerk and his O Entertainment who were behind the launch of Nick's JIMMY NEUTRON. The animated musical takes a glimpse into the hidden world of animals and what they do when humans aren't looking. Music supervision will be handled by Karyn Rachtman (HOLES, PULP FICTION). The film is scheduled for release holidays 2005.
Long in development, but now confirmed as undead, the CG MIGHTY MOUSE adaptation is still set to be overseen by John Woo. Nick Movies says, "the movie will poke fun at the last 60 years of superheroes while still delivering on the genre of an action packed, satirical, irreverent and edgy film that is fun for the whole family."
On the visual effects front, THE MARK is being developed by Will Smith and ALI producer James Lassiter. Smith will also provide a voice for this live-action superhero saga, which chronicles the adventures of an Everyman, who gains superpowers from a weird mark on his body. The mark moves around to different body part gives that part a different power than before for instance if the mark is on his head he has the power of telekinesis; if it's on his arm, he's got the strength of 50 men; if it's on his shoulders, he can soar into the air. The film will be written by Gregg Chabot and Kevin Peterka (REIGN OF FIRE).
The other properties in development at the studio mark a crop of best-selling children's books, including Chris Van Allsburg's WIDOW'S BROOM, Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi's THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES, Martin Handford's WHERE'S WALDO? and David Wiesner's SECTOR 7.
WIDOW'S BROOM follows a New England family, who saves a real witch's broom, which helps the family thwart the obnoxious neighbors, teach the kids magic and help heal the family from the lose of their patriarch. The film will be produced by Scott Kroopf (JUMANJI), William Teitler (JUMANJI, THE POLAR EXPRESS) and Van Allsburg, who also adapted the screenplay.
THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES features three siblings who discover a Field Guide in their Aunt's dilapidated house that offers them entrance into a magical world. As clues to the disappearance of their great uncle, Arthur Spiderwick, who is being held captive by the Fairies, is being unveiled; the siblings find themselves on a perilous journey into the world of fairies and goblins in a desperate attempt to rescue Arthur. The movie will be produced by Mark Canton (GODSEND) and Ellen Goldsmith Vein (president of The Gotham Group) and written by David Berenbaum (ELF).
WHERE'S WALDO? will follow the lovable, shy, Buster Keaton-type Waldo who, along with his faithful dog Woof and his slippery nemesis Odlaw, stumbles upon an invention that catapults them from place to place. Director John Schultz (LIKE MIKE) will helm the film with screenwriter Adam Rifkin (MOUSEHUNT). Tony Ludwig and Alan Riche (STARSKY AND HUTCH) will produce.
SECTOR 7 is about a young boy who is swept away by a cloud creature to "Sector 7," a floating weather factory in the sky above Manhattan. Once there, the boy teaches the clouds the value of chaos and individuality, and inspires them to revolt against a group of strict, bureaucratic humans who are bent on standardizing all weather. The film will be produced by Ted Hope (IN THE BEDROOM) and written by Zach Helm (THE DISASSOCIATE).
Nickelodeon Movies is the feature film development and production division of Nickelodeon, which produces movies for kids and their families in association with its sister Viacom company, Paramount Pictures. Nickelodeon Movies was created in 1993 to develop and produce several types of films, which include star-driven family event movies, kids first movies and animated features.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
