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So They Are Making a Live-Action Smurfs Movie!
by Alex Billington
June 10, 2008
Source: Variety
Earlier this year we posted what were supposedly the first shots of early CGI designs for a Smurfs movie. After some nasty e-mails from people involved, it turns out that the photos had nothing to do with any movies. Alas, here we are four months later confirming news that there is actually a Smurfs movie now officially in the works at Sony. J. David Stem and David Weiss, who wrote the last two Shrek films, are in negotiations to write the screenplay. Producer Jordan Kerner actually secured the rights in 2002 and has been developing it at Paramount, however Sony has separately decided to get it into production as a hybrid live-action feature. I wonder if that post earlier this year had anything to do with it?
This will mark Sony Pictures Animation's first hybrid film, which is a live-action blend of CGI characters and real actors, as was seen with Alvin and the Chipmunks last year. Given the success of that film (an enormous $217 million at the box office), Sony decided that there was definite potential to turn the Smurfs into a similar kind of family film. "The Smurfs are one of the best-known franchises, and among the most beloved collection of characters in the world," Columbia co-president Doug Belgrad said. "We're very excited to introduce a new generation to Papa Smurf, Smurfette and the other smurftastic Smurfs in all of their 'three-apple-tall' glory."
The Smurfs, or Les Schtroumpfs as they were originally called in French, first appeared in October 1958 in the Belgian comic magazine Spirou. They were created by the Brussels-born cartoonist Pierre Culliford - better known as Peyo - and were originally mere supporting cast in his medieval Johan and Pirlouit series. (via Time) Hanna-Barbera later produced a very successful animated TV show featuring the Smurfs that aired from 1981 to 1989 for around 256 episodes.
Initially I was open to the idea of a Smurfs movie, primariy because I am very curious to see how it would turn out and I once enjoyed the TV show. However, now that I know this is being made like Alvin and the Chipmunks, I'm really no longer excited. I admit that I never even saw Alvin and the Chipmunks, but that's because I was turned off at the animation to begin with and thought it was way too childish. I would have much preferred a normal CGI version of the Smurfs. We'll see how this eventually turns out, but right now all the signs point to this being awful. I know it'll be a huge hit at the box office with the kids, but I'll pass. Does a live-action Smurfs sounds exciting to you?
16 Comments
1
pfff. Alvin and the Chipmunks sucked pretty bad. I was excited to watch it but I ended up disappointed. They were trying too hard to aim at the tweenie bopper crowd. So with that I have low expectations for Smurfs. But hopefully they know what they're doing and try to advertise it to us who grew up with them.
Alfredo on Jun 10, 2008
2
Will smurfette have panties?
Matt Suhu on Jun 10, 2008
3
Wow.... that not only sounds terrible, but unnecessary as well.
Alex on Jun 10, 2008
4
I don't know because I can't imagine it at all. A lot of kids liked Alvin and Chipmunks so maybe this is just for little children. Think of all the movies we loved as kids but our parents hated? I can think of quite a few that my parents thought were torture to watch. The kids have to get something too not everything can be for us, ya know? 🙂 I'm not saying that it can't be both I just don't think it should be surprising when it isn't.
Janet on Jun 10, 2008
5
If you stick your head out the window and look up into the sky, I'm pretty sure you're going to see 4 dudes on horseback. The end is most definitely fucking nigh. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go drive ingots into my eyes so I'll never ever have to see this abomination of cinema. BTW, next time you're in your fridge, take 3 apples and stack them up. It's not as small as people think. Now imagine they're blue, live, and really happy. Talk about fuckin creeeeeeepy.
Derek on Jun 10, 2008
7
Just leave it at animation. Alvin wasn't good but not too bad for a kids flick and somewhat enjoyable for the older crowd too. ALVIN like SCOOBY-DOO I think are only a few exceptions to the rule. But just leave this at CGI or go back to hand-drawn which I am sure is what most would like.
Ryan on Jun 10, 2008
8
What exactly were you hoping Alvin and the Chipmunks to be other than a cute little family comedy? Perhaps a serious dramatic biopic of three little woodland critters struggling to make it in the music business. Yes we all loved it when we were kids. But just because we all have aged, doesn't mean the material has as well. It's still just about three singing chipmunks. As far as The Smurfs, it's still going to be about a bunch of blue creatures living in the forest trying not to get eaten by a crazy wizard and his cat. So maybe you should just realize that the material is geared towards children and you are no longer ten years old.
Mario on Jun 10, 2008
9
Alvin and the Chipmunks was a fun movie, I really liked it, but the problem with Smurfs is that live action couldn't possible work. Mostly because Alvin and the Chipmunks was about 3 chipmunk boys who live in a world filled with humans, the Smurfs is about a small village of Smurfs living in Smurf Village, the only person being Gargamel. How can THAT possibly work? What are they gonna do? Take a camera to the woods and put it on the ground and film the ground for a while and then put CGI in later? If I was the cinematographer on that movie I'd be INCREDIBLY bored.
Kail on Jun 10, 2008
10
Maybe they're going to have live-action Smurfs and CGI humans. That would rock!
kevjohn on Jun 10, 2008
11
Alex, so you think it's UNNECESSARY for smurfette to have...??? lol!
Matt Suhu on Jun 10, 2008
12
**shrudder**
Ajax on Jun 11, 2008
13
As a hard fan of the tv series and smurf collector since I was 5, I want, I insist I want, a completely CGI movie for the Smurfs, please do not repeat errors with the chipmunks movie.
Antonio (psiko from italy) on Jul 30, 2008
14
If they cast anyone but John Turturro as Gargamel, then they're making a terrible mistake.
MagFlare on Nov 24, 2008
15
dude, this is the only oldie that has to stay as a cartoon, dragonball could wait, the stooges too, but you dont touch the smurfs man! EVER!
XD Reyes on Dec 28, 2008
16
i want all the lateses movie news and web links to watch free movies
stunna on Mar 13, 2009
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