Tim Story in Negotiations to Direct ‘Tom and Jerry’
Tom and Jerry are heading back to the big screen in a new hybrid live action adventure. And they’re not the only Hanna-Barbera stars that Warner Bros. have plans for.
Warner Bros. and Warner Animation Group are currently in negotiations with director Tim Story for him to helm the movie, which is currently expected to shoot next year. According to Variety Story, who has recently finished production on Shaft, was discussing potential projects with WB executives when the famous cat and mouse were brought up, prompting Story to express his admiration for the characters and tell Warner Bros. that he’d love to tackle the classic property.
When it comes to getting these beloved characters right, Warner Bros. knows there’s no short cuts, and they’re getting their animation and live action teams to work together to ensure they get the best results. As Variety explains; “executives also understand that for the animation to be strong for the hybrid projects, the VFX some studios use won’t work as well as going through the animation process starting with storyboarding the characters, instead of pre-vis, to help develop each individual’s arc.”
For Tom and Jerry, the plan is to shoot in the real world with animated versions of the popular duo. And, unlike the 1992 animated movie, Tom and Jerry won’t be talking, relying instead on the classic physical comedy of the original cartoon shorts. It’s a decision that’s likely to be popular with fans and, as Variety notes, help add to the international appeal of the movie.
But Tom and Jerry is just the start. Warner Bros. understands how much of its history is linked with the iconic Hanna-Barbera characters, and now plans to give them the same focus as DC’s super heroes and Harry Potter’s Wizarding World.
Another hybrid live action project expected to film next year is Ryan Coogler’s Space Jam sequel starring LeBron James and the classic Looney Tunes characters. There’s also plans for a Coyote vs A.C.M.E. movie starring Wile E. Coyote, which The Lego Movie‘s Chris McKay is set to produce.
On the animation side, Variety confirm that Chris Columbus has joined Scooby Doo as a creative producer, where he will work alongside director Tony Cervone. No further details have been announced, including who with join Scooby in the Mystery Machine, but the film is currently scheduled for release in May 2020.
And that’s not all! The Jetsons, from writer Matt Lieberman and director Conrad Vernon, is deep in development, along with new animated features for The Flintstones and Wacky Races.
As Variety notes, “the studio clearly sees this division as one of the top priorities going forward in terms of building its business for years to come.” As Fred Flintstone would say, Yabba Dabba Doo!
Chris is a lifelong fan of Disney, Star Wars and super heroes who can’t quite believe this golden age of movies and TV we’re living in. Having written blogs dedicated to Disney’s Aladdin musical and Star Wars Celebration, Chris is excited to be part of the MNN team.
