'Dr. Dolittle: Tail To The Chief' Writer Hired To Pen 'Short Circuit' Remake For Kids

Dimension Films have announced the hiring of screenwriter Matt Lieberman to pen a remake of the 1986 cult favorite Short Circuit. An Honors film grad from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Lieberman wrote a draft of the Doctor Dolittle sequel Doctor Dolittle: First Dog, and another couple projects that have never gone into production, including Disney's Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. He's a graduate of the Disney screenwriting program, and has uncredited worked on a bunch of the Disney live-action film projects from the past few years. Despite my jab headline, Lieberman seems like an up-and-comer. He is set to work closely with director Tim Hill (Hop, Alvin and the Chipmunks).

The press release says that "details of the new take are currently being kept under wraps" but its pretty obvious that they are aiming for something much tamer than the original film. It is very clear that the Weinsteins have either never seen the original Short Circuit movie, or just don't care — they see this as a potential family movie franchise. The release also quotes Bob Weinstein touting the $500 million worldwide box office take from the Spy Kids film series, stating:

"We are looking for SHORT CIRCUIT to be our next family franchise and are excited to be working with Matt Lieberman and Tim Hill, who has had great International success with HOP and ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS."

The original Short Circuit was directed by the guy who made Wargames, and written by the guys who wrote Tremors.

Trailer from the original film:

Press Release:

DIMENSION FILMS HIRES SCRIBE MATT LIEBERMAN FOR SHORT CIRCUIT

New York, NY, February 2, 2012 – Dimension Films announced today that they have hired Matt Lieberman to pen their family film SHORT CIRCUIT. Lieberman will work closely with already attached director Tim Hill (HOP, ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS) in the reimagining of the 80s classic. Lieberman is a recent alumni of the Disney writers program. Details of the new take are currently being kept under wraps.

"Dimension has had great success with the SPY KIDS family series which grossed over $500 million worldwide," said Bob Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company (TWC). "We are looking for SHORT CIRCUIT to be our next family franchise and are excited to be working with Matt Lieberman and Tim Hill, who has had great International success with HOP and ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS."

David Foster, who produced the original, is producing with Ryan E. Heppe, John Hyde and Brian Manis.

Shooting is scheduled for the end of the year with a release in Summer 2013.

The deal was negotiated for Dimension Films by Adrian Lopez, VP of Business and Legal and Matthew Signer, SVP of Production and Creative Affairs; for the filmmakers by Brad Rosenfeld at Preferred Artists and Melissa Rogal at Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler & Feldman, Inc.. Lieberman is represented by Rosenfeld, Rogal and Adam Kolbrenner at Madhouse.

ABOUT THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY AND DIMENSION FILMS

The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, which has released such popular franchises as SCREAM, SPY KIDS and SCARY MOVIE. Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes, including Tom Hooper's THE KING'S SPEECH, winner of four 2011 Academy Awards®, including Best Picture.

Since 2005, TWC and Dimension Films have released such films as Grindhouse; I'm Not There; The Great Debaters; Vicky Cristina Barcelona; The Reader; The Road; Halloween; The Pat Tillman Stor;; Piranha 3D; Inglourious Basterd;; A Single Man; Blue Valentine; The Company Men; Miral; Scre4m; Submarine; Dirty Girl; Apollo 18; Our Idiot Brother; I Don't Know How She Does It; Sarah's Key; and Spy Kids: All The Time In The World In 4d. Currently in release are My Week With Marilyn; The Artist; The Iron Lady and Coriolanus. Upcoming Is W.E.

TWC is also active in television production, with credits including the Emmy® nominated and Peabody Award winning reality series Project Runway, the VH1 reality series Mob Wives, and the critically acclaimed HBO comedy/crime series The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency which also received a Peabody Award. The company is currently producing After The Runway, Project Runway All Stars and Project Accessory. The company currently has 17 series in different stages of development, including Marco Polo, a scripted historical series about the great explorer; and The Nanny Diaries, being adapted for ABC by Amy Sherman Palladino (Gilmore Girls).