Popular comic book cat and animated TV star GARIFELD will display his CGI stripes in a new live-action motion picture Twentieth Century Fox plans to release in U.S. theaters December 19, 2003. Peter Hewitt directs the picture, which is adapted from the syndicated cartoon strip created by Jim Davis and read in 2,600 newspapers by 260 million readers around the globe. The story starts as Garfield’s owner, Jon, takes in sweet but dimwitted pooch Odie, turning Garfield’s perfect world upside down. The lasagna-loving orange tabby tries to get Odie out of his life until the hapless pup is kidnapped by a nasty dog trainer, so Garfield pulls himself away from his beloved barcolounger to get him back. According to the Garfield Website (www.garfield.com), Davis Entertainment, a production company run by John Davis (no relation to Jim Davis), is producing the film from a script by Alec Sokolow and Joel Cohen, co-writers for TOY STORY, with input from creator Jim Davis. GARFIELD, celebrating his 25th anniversary in 2004, has starred in a number of 2D animated specials and TV series by Lee Mendelson Films, Paws Inc. and Film Roman.