The movie project will blend live-action and stop-motion, and feature original music by Paul, who previously co-wrote the ‘Despicable Me’ trilogy.
Cinco Paul will make his feature animation directorial debut with Winter Wonderland, a hybrid live-action/stop-motion animated film based on the holiday song of the title.
Per Deadline, Paul will write original songs for the film, which is a joint collaboration between Imagine Kids+Family and Warner Music Group.
Alongside screenwriting partner Ken Daurio, Paul co-wrote the Despicable Me trilogy, Minions, Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who, The Lorax, and The Secret Life of Pets. He was also the showrunner and songwriter for the Apple TV+ series Schmigadoon!.
Winter Wonderland is currently being shopped around for a home. Paul created the concept for the film, crafting a family-friendly story that’s rooted in Felix Bernard and Richard Bernhard Smith’s 1934 Christmas classic, and featuring original songs that Paul wrote. (The “Winter Wonderland” song is controlled by Warner Chappell Music.)
Imagine Kids+Family and WMG are co-producing and co-financing Winter Wonderland. This is the first project to emerge from the two companies’ multi-year strategic partnership, to co-produce and co-finance a slate of music-centered projects across multiple mediums, including film, television, documentary, and short-form content.
Imagine Entertainment chairmen Brian Grazer and Ron Howard and Imagine Kids+Family president Stephanie Sperber will serve as producers. Joining them to produce are WMG’s Charlie Cohen, president of TV & film at Warner Music Entertainment; Meredith Milton, WMG consultant and producer; and Kurt Deutsch, SVP Theatrical and Catalog at Warner Chappell Music.
Max Weinstein is a writer and editor based in Los Angeles. He is the Editor-at-Large of 'Dread Central' and former Editorial Director of 'MovieMaker.' His work has been featured in 'Cineaste,' 'Fangoria,' 'Playboy,' 'Vice,' and 'The Week.'
