Gnomeo and Juliet' Monday,17 April 2006
Miramax Films have
acquired the rights to Elton John's animated
musical film Romeo and Juliet.
Elton
John's Rocket Pictures will work in
collaboration with Miramax Films to produce
Gnomeo and
Juliet, a tale of two star-crossed
tacky garden gnomes. Acadamy Award-winning
lyricist Tim Rice will collaborate with John
on the songs for the film starring British
actress Kate Winslet.
"Gnomeo" was in development for several years at Walt Disney Feature Animation, but was axed last month in the wake of Disney's purchase of Pixar Animation Studios. Pixar chiefs John Lasseter and Ed Catmull are reviewing all Walt Disney Feature Animation legacy projects while simultaneously developing new animated titles.
Since Miramax is also owned by Disney, the transfer of the project went fairly smoothly. Miramax Films chairman Daniel Battsek used to work for Disney's international arm, and has a longstanding relationship with John's Rocket Prods. banner. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"Gnomeo" is the first computer animated film to be produced by Miramax since Battsek took over from studio co-founders Bob and Harvey Weinstein in July.
Miramax president Daniel
Battsek said of the project: "I have had a
longstanding relationship with Rocket
Productions and have been following this
project since I was at BVI. I was thrilled
when the opportunity arose to bring
Gnomeo to Miramax."
Sir
Elton and Tim Rice will concoct a soundtrack
for the movie. Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley
wrote the current version of the script,
previously drafted by Rob Sprackling and
John Smith.
The film will be produced in London.