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The Lorax Gets 3-D Animated Treatment

Dr. Seuss' environmentally-themed THE LORAX is set to become a 3-D animated feature from Illumination Ent. and Universal Pictures, reports VARIETY.

Chris Renaud and Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio will direct from a script by Paul & Daurio. The film is set for a March 2, 2012 release, the birthday of Theodor Geisel, who died in 1991.

THE LORAX is narrated by a greedy entrepreneur, who, despite warnings from the tree-loving Lorax, cuts down a forest of Truffula trees to make clothing, destroying the ecosystem and forcing the animals to leave.

"Ted Geisel was prescient in an uncanny way when he wrote the book and explored themes of greed and how that can lead to the destruction of environment," Meledandri said. Meledandri is set to produce with Audrey Geisel to exec produce. John Cohen and Janet Healy will produce for Illumination.

Meledandri put DR. SEUSS' HORTON HEARS A WHO! together when he ran Fox Animation, before leaving to form Illumination as the family film arm of Universal.

Paul & Daurio, who wrote HORTON, are set to make their directorial debut on THE LORAX. They've signed an exclusive four-year writing and directing deal with Illumination. The pair also wrote upcoming animated feature DESPICABLE ME, which Renaud co-directed with Pierre Coffin. Renaud in turn has a three-picture deal with Illumination; LORAX being the second film.