A couple months ago it was revealed that Paramount was working on a computer animated movie based on the popular classic trippy 80’s cartoon series The Smurfs (Truth is that the Smurfs are actually 50 years old, having first appeared in comic strips). Well it turns out that producer Jordan Kerner (Charlotte’s Web), who obtained the rights to the Smurfs property in 2002, has also gotten a hybrid live-action Smurfs feature film greenlit at Sony. For those of you wondering what live-action hybrid means, think Alvin and the Chipmunks. Its not clear if Paramount will still be going ahead with their 3D computer animated feature or not.
J. David Stem and David Weiss, the guys who wrote the last two Shrek films, are in negotiations to write the screenplay. Studio head Amy Pascal and chairman-CEO Michael Lynton both feel “that there was potentially a series of films in the making.” I’m sure they do. A series of films means more money. A computer animated Smurfs film had me much more excited than this newly announced hybrid. It seems clear to me that the idea was probably a result of Alvin and the Chipmunks big box office success. The world of the Smurfs is interesting, magical and fantastical. Giving the characters realism and sticking them in a live action world with humans could ruin the whole appeal. I cant see the reason for them doing a live action hybrid unless The Smurfs are somehow forced to leave Mushroom Village. And it seems that kind of plot could be disastrous.
source: Variety
June 10th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
As a kid of the 80’s I loved the Smurfs…a TV show actually aired some behind the scenes at the CGI studio..I think it was Spanish the footage looked pretty cool..I’m sure you guys found it already
June 10th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
oh MY god. the Smurfs? you got to be kidding me. People’s obsession for 80s nostalgia is ridiculous and needs to stop.
Wake the f–k up people! this is not 1985 anymore.
This is gonna be another huge flop and it’s just gonna suck so bad.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I love the Smurfs too, I always watched them when I was a kid.
I think that a movie will be a excellent idea and my generation will be very grateful.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Hahahaha. I’m pretty sure somebody called this sometime ago. I must be tripping again…
June 10th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Im sure the live action component would be a live action gargamel. Which wouldn’t exactly be a bad thing. I can think of a bunch of dudes who could fill that role. Although, for me the gargamel voice is the most important thing. Unfortunately wikipedia says Paul Winchell is dead. So I guess they have an excuse.
A live action Azrael might fly as well.
As long as they keep the smurfs where they are. And don’t put them in LA or something dumb like that.
June 10th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I did alot of drugs in the 80’s and on a totally unrelated note, the smurfs were cool
June 10th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
From the writers of Shrek?
Cue Rapping Smurf
June 10th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Isn’t the Paramount CGI Smurfs film supposed to be coming out in November?
June 10th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
This plot is going to require some intense footwork if you’re going to explain why the smurfs are interacting with humans…that is assuming you’re gonna have more than one human (besides that one creepy dude who wears the robe and likes cats)…honestly if we’re making a hybrid movie just to make that guy real we’re making a mistake here
June 10th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
are johan and pee-wee in the movie?
June 10th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Are you smurfing me? This is a great smurfing idea.
They should do the story of Smurfette’s origin. That was always my favorite when I was a kid. The wizard makes a female for all the 100 smurfs to fall in love with, but since they’re gay, they just made her “fabulous” with their own smurf magic.
I vote Jim Carry for Gargamel with a big musical number on how many ways he wishes to cook smurfs.
Smurfs are world renown and pretty much untapped in the marketplace. My kids don’t watch the reruns, but I think they’d did a dark and magical CGI smurf world. I like the idea of a real setting and real human actors mixed with the smurfs. As long as they’re not creepy looking.
My sister had like 50 smurfs, and they were actually pretty cool, and no, I’m not gay.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Oh, and they need to keep the movie dark and spooky with an old world look. No “My Name is Earl” actors either.
June 12th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
I agree with Jim. They can’t put them in the real world.
June 15th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
As long as David Cross plays Gargumel I’ll be there!