Warner Bros. Pictures has bought Ron Friedman and Steve Bencichs live-action, coming-of-age adventure THE TREEHOUSE.Wes Ball will make his feature directing debut on the film, with Tapestry Films Robert Levy, Peter Abrams and Andrew Panay producing. Warners' Lionel Wigram and Lauren Craniotes, along with Warner Bros. Animation president Sander Schwartz, are shepherding the film.
The story chronicles the adventures of a lonely boy who uncovers a magical treehouse, which transports him to a fantastical forest ruled children rule and parents dont exist.
Friedman and Bencich have previously worked on such animation scripts as BROTHER BEAR, CHICKEN LITTLE, CURIOUS GEORGE and the forthcoming OPEN SEASON.
Ball was awarded a 2003 Student Academy Award in 2003 for his CGI short A WORK IN PROGRESS. His one-minute animated trailer for the project helped seal the deal.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
