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Today, several people joined the cast of the Masters of the Universe film, including Jared Leto as Skeletor.
Posted in: Movies, Paramount Pictures | Tagged: nickelodeon, Paramount Animation, Smufs
Smurfs Animated Musical Film Hires Chris Miller To Direct
Smurfs are returning to the big screen, as director Chris Miller (Puss in Boots) will oversee the project. The Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon production has a release date of December 20th, 2024, and will be a musical. Think Trolls. Pam Brady (Team America: World Police) wrote the script, which will be the first of many Smurfs projects made in a deal between the two studios and LAFIG Belgium and IMPS, who hold the rights for the property. The Hollywood Reporter had the news of the director's hire.
The Smurfs Could Be Great, But Not As A Trolls Clone
"We're thrilled to have such a talented group of people bringing audiences this latest rendition of the beloved Smurfs universe, including the incredible Chris Miller," said Ramsey Naito, who has been leading Paramount Animation as president, animation & development. The Smurfs began life as a Belgian comic in 1958 and spawned various animated series and films. The property gained prominence in the U.S. thanks to the 1980s Hanna-Barbera Productions cartoon." Sony produced two other big-screen Smurfs films in the 2010s, to various levels of box office and critical success. A third film, Smurfs: The Lost Village, was released in 2017 and was the last film produced before the deal with Paramount. The characters have been around for 64 years, in various forms, though none as popular as the 1980s Hanna Barbara cartoon.
Which is the direction they should head with this franchise, though clearly it is not. A musical with the director of Puss in Boots screams that they are basically making the Smurfs into another version of Trolls, and that makes me sad. I always loved the Smurfs when I was a kid, and when I tried to show the newer films to my daughter she hated it, but we enjoyed the 80's show together. That should be a clue, Paramount.
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