THE FAIRLY ODDPARENTS started as a short on Nickelodeons OH YEAH! CARTOONS!, spun-off off into its own TV series, then a 90-minute telemovie, recently became a stripped series and is now slated to be a big screen theatrical. Paramount Pictures-based Nickelodeon Movies is developing an untitled film version with the show's creator Butch Hartman and producer/story editor Steve Marmel, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER and confirmed by a Nick spokesperson.
Hartman will direct, co-write and exec produce the feature film with Marmel, who will co-write and produce it. Nickelodeon's Julia Pistor, Albie Hecht and Marjorie Cohn are also executive producing.
The hit series on Nick features a powerless kid, Timmy (Tara Strong), who figures he finally has the upper hand when fairy godparents Cosmo (Daran Norris) and Wanda (Susan Blakeslee) appear unexpectedly on the scene. Fairy godparents help kids in need. They constantly practice their craft on him and delight in playfully punishing his babysitting nemesis, 16-year-old Vicky (Grey Delisle), who turns mean as a snake the second Timmys parents leave.
An ODDPARENTS telefilm titled ABRA-CATASTROPHE premiered July 12, 2003 and drew more than 7.5 million viewers in its combined airings. The series is now in its fourth season, which is exec produced by Fred Seibert, president of Frederator Studios. With a theatrical in the works for an undetermined release date, what more could its creators wish for?
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
