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Genndy Tartakovsky Set to Sail with Sony's Animated 'Popeye' Next

by Alex Billington
June 25, 2012
Source: Showblitz

Some interesting and potentially good news for fans of Russian animation director Genndy Tartakovsky, of "Dexter's Lab", "Samurai Jack" and "Sym-Bionic Titan" fame. He's finally making his feature debut this summer with the animated film Hotel Transylvania, out in theaters on September 21st, but now there's reports he's already got his next feature film gig lined up. Showblitz was the first to report that Tartakovsky is attached to develop and direct Sony Pictures Animation's upcoming 3D Popeye movie, about the good ole spinach-eatin' sailor. The project was announced a few years ago, but is just progressing now. Read on!

For those that are Popeye fanatics, don't worry, this isn't a CG "hybrid" (thank goodness), this is a full-on, all-CGI animated movie. Avi and Ari Arad will produce under their Arad Productions banner with Sony Pictures Animation. As we predicted, Variety hints that Sony is very happy with what he's come up with for Hotel Transylvania, which should be getting an extra marketing push soon. "SPA production prexy Michelle Raimo-Kouyate and production SVP Michael Lachance will oversee the project for the studio, which was keen to put Tartakovsky on another project soon after Transylvania wrapped." He's a director that I've been watching and expecting to break out, because he does awesome work, and I'm looking forward to seeing Transylvania. I'm curious to see how he's going to approach Popeye, we'll keep you updated on their plans.

Popeye the Sailor is a cartoon fictional character created by Elzie Crisler Segar, who first appeared in the daily King Features comic strip Thimble Theatre on January 17, 1929. Popeye has been in comic strips and animated movies as well as on television. There was already that Robin Williams film from 1980 that no one remembers. His cohorts include Olive and Bluto, who we'll likely see in this film as well as plenty of others. Tartakovsky also has a Samurai Jack movie in the works, though we're expecting him to jump to this next.

Filed under Development, Movie News

From around the web:

jah p

Man, I hope this looks as good as Tin TIn did last year!
Big Boss

But NO Samurai Jack?! Ugh...
Ehsan Davodi

Popeye has strong character , He can be Kind Hulk ! Good Cast&Crew Very Wishable Anim with definitly great potential But mr.Genndy eat some spinach before directing, please,
LosZombies

Dear Alex, I remember the Robin Williams Popeye movie... :'( -Loszombies
Voice of Reason

Popeye?!?!?! Really?!? This is peculiar to me. I admire Tartakovsky for his early CN days as Hotel Transylvania looks bland and forgettable, but I am scratching my head over the purpose of reviving the salmonella-prone sailor...Are Dave Coulier impersonations making a comeback too? Ugh, 20 bucks says the studio puts a rack on Olive Oyle too.
- Derp
  
  Aw, c'mon! If they can revive the muppets why not popeye?
  - Voice of Reason
    
    Thats silly. The Muppets were a late 70s phenomenon with ongoing attempts to keep them alive for 30 years until recently a year ago. Popeye had his heydey in the 40s and 50s with a last grasp at an 80s live action, then dormant since for almost 30 years. The Muppets hold relevance to todays culture through active adults as money-spenders. Where as Popeyes is as dead in the ground as most 80-90 year olds that once brought him acclaim. I could be wrong, maybe it'll be awesome. Or maybe it'll be just as awesome as Yogi Bear & 3 stooges and other similar-era-material. Who knows. It just seems....out of left field and without an audience clamoring for it.