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They're Actually Making the New 'ALF' Movie?! But It's a CGI-Hybrid

by Alex Billington
August 8, 2012
Source: THR

I don't about everyone else, but I totally loved ALF when I was growing up. You know the guy I'm talking about, that goofy, very furry, weird alien creature (Alien Life Form - see above) who had his own TV show in the late 80's. There have been rumors and buzz about an ALF movie for the last few years, but we kept hearing that none of it was really real, and it wasn't likely to actually happen. Well, according to this update from Heat Vision, they were wrong. It's happening! However, it's going to be a Sony Pictures Animation production, and it's going to be a CG-live action hybrid feature. Think The Smurfs. Now I'm a little worried.

The report states that Sony Animation has closed a deal to acquire rights to the classic 80s TV series to develop as a feature. Alf was always a family comedy, so I see where they're going. No writer or director is attached yet, only producers. Jordan Kerner, who produced The Smurfs movie, is developing along with show creators Tom Patchett, and puppeteer, Paul Fusco, who played ALF back on the original show and is "expected return as the voice of ALF for the movie." At least they've got the right people involved, but it's unfortunate Fusco, who was ALF's puppeteer and voice, isn't pushing for a puppet again - think Muppets.

The last update we covered from Paul Fusco was in May earlier this year. He expressed hope to see an ALF movie back then and it seems like his push worked. "I think the timing is right. That's a big important thing, timing. There have been movies out there of characters that I didn't think were on the same parallel as ALF that got movies made, so I think it's time. I think it could be a home run on a lot of levels." I really hope that's the case, but I'm still quite worried about the CGI-hybrid decision. I'd much rather see almost an ALF revival/return (like The Muppets) than a Smurfs-like CGI take on him, but that's just me. Anyone else?

Filed under Development, Hype, Movie News

From around the web:

RobOhh

CG Alf? #fail
- Zanpher
  
  Wow, based on two letters, it is a fail? You must be new to life.
  - RobOhh
    
    Have you seen The Smurfs? You must be new to cinema.
    - Zanpher
      
      You must not have seen Avatar ... Nice try.
      - Manuel
        
        Avatar wasn't filmed by Sony. Sony Imageworks (Smurfs, Green Lantern, and all that crap) is not ILM.
      - C
        
        ILM is not Weta Digital, Weta Digital did at least 80% of the vfx on Avatar. ILM & Framestore the rest and at the end of post production.
mooreworthy

If made, it will make at least one person happy. Isnt that what hollywoods about? Enriching lives? I tried with a serious face, but...
The Truth

Could be interesting. But I'm not sure how well the CGI will do because it would be like trying to GCI the Muppets.
Scotty97

Without the fuzzy puppet, it's not Alf. It's just another CGI childhood raping.
grimjob

No puppet? No thanks.
http://www.facebook.com/avi.smulders Avi Smulders

When they use the best cgi it will maybe work but i am worried to!
http://mithunonthe.net/ Mithun Divakaran

it doesn't matter what us 80's children say. They're going CGI to introduce ALF to a new generation of kids so that sequels can find an audience.
alydelle

It smells to me like the live action Garfield movie :S (granted, Garfield was a cartoon, not a puppet, but still I'm sceptic the studio will transfer Alf's quirky and mischievous personality or if they'll just do a CGI marionette that acts on the "philosophy" of YOLO and SWAG).
David Banner

Why does Firstshowing even bother to cover this?
- http://www.facebook.com/matt.peloquin.14 Matt Peloquin
  
  Because it's about a film...
- http://www.firstshowing.net/ Alex Billington
  
  Yea, I was going to say... because it's about a movie coming up, and because it's ALF! I love(d) ALF! Even though I know I'm going to hate/be disinterested in this if he's CGI, but we'll see. For now this is the first news we've heard about it actually happening.
Steven

I'm not sure why the prospect of a CGI ALF is met with such fear. The CGI Yoda used in the prequels is far better than the original puppet used in TPM, which it needed to be for Yoda tin the fight scenes in AoTC and RotS.
D

Permanent Midnight
http://www.facebook.com/jake.kash.ftw Jake Kash

so many awesome and original 80's shows getting "remixed". i grew up watching those shows and enjoyed them immensely...and now i watch some of these remakes as they bomb for this generation....and i just laugh. I'm glad i had an awesome childhood filled with original shows. lolz
Em

Just don't make it a musical and use really good animation so Alf looks fuzzy and real. If there has to be singing, keep it to a minimum and have a good story line, like what happens when Alf is captured (the last season of Alf) and how he escapes.
Daniel

CGI?? god no.
Melmacian

I wonder if it will be a sequel to 'Project A.L.F.'