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The Copeland Brothers have found a new home.

Chris and Justin Copeland, who have worked on “Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts,” “Batman: The Killing Joke” and Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” cartoon, have joined stop-motion studio Laika to develop animated feature projects. Travis Knight, president and CEO of Laika, made the announcement.

The Copeland Brothers, as they are collectively known, have been working for the past five years on feature and series projects for DreamWorks Animation. The feature they were working on for DreamWorks is not going forward; hence their pivot to Laika, TheWrap has learned. However, a short film that they were working on for the studio is coming soon.

The Copelands join a growing list of filmmakers who are working on projects for the Portland, Oregon-based animation studio, including Pete Candeland, who has directed a number of Gorillaz music videos; Víctor Maldonado and Alfredo Torres, who...

Gkids has announced the acquisition of the North American rights for the upcoming French sci-fi animation film “Mars Express,” directed by Jérémie Perin in his feature debut.

The film’s synopsis reads: “In 2200, private detective Aline Ruby and her android partner Carlos Rivera are hired by a wealthy businessman to track down a notorious hacker. On Mars, they descend deep into the underbelly of the planet’s capital city where they uncover a darker story of brain farms, corruption, and a missing girl who holds a secret about the robots that threatens to change the face of the universe.”

Perin’s debut was part of the official selection at the Cannes and Annecy film festivals this year.

“Mars Express’ is a film we have been excited about for years, since we saw the very first footage,” said Gkids president David Jesteadt. “This is a timely and provocative story set in...

Laika, the groundbreaking Portland, Oregon-based animation studio, has brought in new filmmakers in the form of director Pete Candeland and Victor Maldonado and Alfredo Torres, the duo known as Headless, TheWrap has confirmed.

Candeland and Headless will be developing new animated features, although details on those features have yet to be revealed.

Maldonado and Torres won an Annie for an episode of the Guillermo del Toro DreamWorks Animation series “Trollhunters” and have also directed three episodes of Netflix’s adult animated series “Love, Death & Robots.” Maldonado also directed and co-wrote “Nocturna,” a 2007 animated feature. Torres also worked on “Nocturna” as production designer, which won the Best Animated Feature at the Goya Awards. They also worked on the animated sequences from J.A. Bayona’s “A Monster Calls” and were in development at Skydance Animation, which recently moved its feature output from Apple TV+ to Netflix.

Candeland is best known for directing music videos for Gorillaz,...

Exclusive: Oregon studio Laika has brought in new talent, hiring director Pete Candeland, along with Victor Maldonado & Alfredo Torres, the Annie Award-winning duo together known as Headless, to develop new animated features.

The appointments are effective immediately, though there’s no word yet on what the projects are.

Maldonado and Torres are an L.A.-based team that landed their Annie for the helming of “Win, Lose or Draal,” an episode of the Guillermo del Toro series Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, produced by DreamWorks Animation and Double Dare You Productions. The duo also directed three episodes of the Emmy-winning Netflix animated series Love, Death & Robots, additionally partnering on the 2007 fantasy Nocturna which won Best Animated Feature at the Goya Awards, Spain’s equivalent of the Oscars. Maldonado directed that title alongside Adrià García, with Torres serving as production designer and tackling numerous other creative responsibilities.

Maldonado and Torres also...

Illumination has released the third trailer for The Grinch which sees the miserable misery embark on a Christmas heist.

Based on Dr. Seuss’ beloved holiday adventure, The Grinch tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas only to have his heart changed by a young girl’s generous holiday spirit. Funny, heartwarming and visually stunning, it’s a universal story about the spirit of Christmas and the indomitable power of optimism.

Directed by Peter Candeland and Yarrow Cheney and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, The Grinch tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl’s generous holiday spirit. It’s a universal story about the spirit of Christmas and the indomitable power of optimism.

Also in trailers – The first trailer for Captain Marvel has arrived

The film hits...

For their eighth fully animated feature, Illumination and Universal Pictures present a brand new trailer for the holiday classic – The Grinch.

Based on Dr. Seuss’ beloved holiday adventure, The Grinch tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas only to have his heart changed by a young girl’s generous holiday spirit. Funny, heart warming and visually stunning, it’s a universal story about the spirit of Christmas and the indomitable power of optimism.

Directed by Peter Candeland and Yarrow Cheney and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, The Grinch tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl’s generous holiday spirit. It’s a universal story about the spirit of Christmas and the indomitable power of optimism.

Also in trailers – Pooh teaches Christopher Robin how to live again...

Universal Pictures and Illumination released a new trailer for the Dr Suess favourite, The Grinch.

Directed by Peter Candeland and Yarrow Cheney and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, The Grinch tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl’s generous holiday spirit. It’s a universal story about the spirit of Christmas and the indomitable power of optimism.

Also in trailers – Domhnall Gleeson stars in trailer for Lenny Abrahamson’s The Little Stranger

The film hits cinemas November 9th 2018.

The Grinch Official Synopsis

Academy Award® nominee Benedict Cumberbatch lends his voice to the infamous Grinch, who lives a solitary life inside a cave on Mt. Crumpet with only his loyal dog, Max, for company. With a cave rigged with inventions and contraptions for his day-to-day needs, the Grinch only sees his neighbours in Who-ville when he runs out of food.

The last time the Grinch wrecked havoc on the big screen was all the way back in 2000 when Jim Carrey took on the role in Ron Howard’s live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ holiday classic. Both the 2000 film and the famous 1966 animated special, featuring the voice of Boris Karloff, are considered holiday touchstones, and Illumination Entertainment is certainly hoping there’s room for one more.

The studio behind “Despicable Me” and “Minions” is putting its own animated stamp on Dr. Seuss with this fall’s “The Grinch,” featuring Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead voice role. The movie will be the first computer animated Grinch film and is directed by “The Secret Life of Pets” co-director Yarrow Cheney and Peter Candeland. Danny Elfman is handling the music.

“The Grinch” will be released in theaters nationwide November 9. Watch the first trailer below.

Universal Pictures and Illumination present to us the very first trailer for the 3D computer-animated Christmas film (and their eighth fully animated feature together), The Grinch.

Directed by Peter Candeland and Yarrow Cheney and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, The Grinch tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl’s generous holiday spirit. It’s a universal story about the spirit of Christmas and the indomitable power of optimism.

Also in trailers – First teaser trailer for Disney’s live-action Christopher Robin bounces in

The film hits cinemas November 9th 2018

He’s a mean one. #TheGrinch starring Benedict Cumberbatch, in theaters November 9. pic.twitter.com/QD4EmzJznU

— The Grinch (@grinchmovie) March 8, 2018

The Grinch Official Synopsis

Academy Award® nominee Benedict Cumberbatch lends his voice to the infamous Grinch, who lives a solitary life inside a cave on Mt.

It looks like the wheels are finally moving on Universal’s new animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch. Though the project was first announced back in April 2016, along with the reveal that Benedict Cumberbatch was voicing the titular character, news went quiet for a long while until the first poster arrived in December. Now, a short teaser trailer has landed, giving us our first look at Cumberbatch’s green meanie in action.

Not that we actually get to hear the Doctor Strange star voicing the character, mind you. The 30 second teaser is a silent bit of fun which sees the Grinch at home with his loveable dog Max watching figure skating on the TV. It turns out that this is a lifelong dream of the Grinch’s, as he proceeds to daydream about winning everyone over with his skating skills… before he comes to his senses and pulls himself together,...

Early last year, it was announced that Illumination – the folks behind Despicable Me and The Secret Lives of Pets – were working on a new animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ classic How The Grinch Stole Christmas. The announcement came with the reveal of its lead actor, too, telling us that Benedict Cumberbatch will be voicing the eponymous green meanie.

Apart from our first glimpse at Cumberbatch’s iteration of the character back in May, things have gone a bit quiet on The Grinch front since then. Now, though, just in time for the holidays, Illumination has rolled out the first poster for the pic, which arrives next year – and it takes the Grinch in an unexpected direction.

Captioned “He gets meaner,” the poster doesn’t show us the older, grouchier Grinch but rather, the sweet and innocent younger version. With his scarf and big eyes, the Grinch looks downright adorable here...

It's been over a year since Benedict Cumberbatch was confirmed to be voicing the title role in Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, a feature length animated reboot of the classic holiday tale. Today, we get a first look at the grumpy green Grinch intent on taking over Christmas. And word that the title has been greatly reduced to just two short words, better for fitting on a marquee.

Now simply called The Grinch, this first look at the CG-animated family holiday comedy comes courtesy of License Global magazine via Coming Soon. The movie will be directed by Peter Candeland and Yarrow Cheney and now has a release date of November 9, 2018. The tag line simply reads as such.

"Stealing Christmas 2018."

Jim Carrey starred in the original live-action movie adaptation of The Grinch way back in 2000, with the new take coming 18 years after the comedian nearly walked off the set...

Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment's planned CG animated feature based on Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" has been significantly delayed.

The project, originally slated for a November 10th 2017 release, has been pushed back a full year to November 9th 2018.

Benedict Cumberbatch voices the title role in the newly-imagined version of the enduring holiday classic. Pete Candeland and Yarrow Cheney helm the new take which Michael LeSieur is penning the adaptation of.

The only film now occupying that November 2017 release slot is Francis Lawrence's "Red Sparrow" for 20th Century Fox.

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All of Whoville will have to wait till 2018 to see the remake of the Dr. Seuss classic...

Universal has just announced that the animated remake of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, in which it has partnered with Illumination Entertainment, has been delayed by a year. It was originally set to release on November 10th 2017, but has been shunted back to November 9th 2018. No reason has been given, but we'd wager it just wouldn't be ready in time.

Benedict Cumberbatch, who showed us just how irredeemably evil he can sound as the voice of Smaug in The Hobbit trilogy, will voice the eponymous green grouch who is bent on making Christmas vanish by stealing every last candy cane. Pete Candeland and Yarrow Cheney will co-direct, with Michael LeSieur adapting the screenplay, Audrey Geisel (the wife of the late Dr Seuss) and Chris Renaud executive producing, and Chris Meledandri,...

Universal Pictures and Illumination have pushed back their feature animated reboot of “Dr Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas” for a full year on the release schedule. The movie, whose voice cast is led by Benedict Cumberbatch, was scheduled to hit theaters November 10, 2017. It’s been moved to November 9, 2018. Pete Candeland and Yarrow Cheney are attached as directors, with Illumination chief Chris Meledandri producing along with Janet Healy and Scott Mosier. Audrey Geisel and Chris Renaud serve as executive producers. Also Read: 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' Coming to NBC Illumination will also produce two original movies for 2016, but.

Universal has moved the upcoming Illumination Entertainment Benedict Cumberbatch starrer Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas from November 10, 2017, to November 9, 2018.

Studio sources said the move was designed to give the film-makers as much time as they needed and said that they wanted to keep the animated film within the November Us holiday season corridor.

Cumberbatch will voice the title role of The Grinch, which was announced back in April at CinemaCon. Pete Candeland and Yarrow Cheney will direct from Michael LeSieur’s adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book.

Illumination chief Chris Meledandri produces with Janet Healy and Scott Mosier, while Audrey Geisel and Chris Renaud are executive producers.

Universal has moved the upcoming Illumination Entertainment Benedict Cumberbatch starrer Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas from November 10, 2017, to November 9, 2018.

Studio sources said the move was designed to give the film-makers as much time as they needed and said that they wanted to keep the animated film within the November Us holiday season corridor.

Cumberbatch will voice the title role of The Grinch, which was announced back in April at CinemaCon. Pete Candeland and Yarrow Cheney will direct from Michael LeSieur’s adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book.

Illumination chief Chris Meledandri produces with Janet Healy and Scott Mosier, while Audrey Geisel and Chris Renaud are executive producers.

Benedict Cumberbatch and his silky, sinister voice born for "it was a dark and stormy night..." tales (and greedy dragons) is now going to voice the Grinch.

Illumination, the studio that made "Despicable Me" and "Minions," made the announcement at CinemaCon. Cumberbatch will voice the Dr. Seuss character in a movie simply titled "The Grinch." (Sorry, Cindy Lou Who, you'll have to wait for your own standalone movie.) Why Cumby? Well, it's probably obvious, but producer Chris Meledandri said he has a voice that exudes "comedic wickedness while embodying vulnerability."

It sounds like it's early days for "The Grinch," but it will be adapted for the screen by writer Michael LeSieur and directed by Pete Candeland and Yarrow Cheney. According to Entertainment Weekly, the current release date is November 10, 2017.

You'll remember that the Grinch of the 1966 Chuck Jones animated TV short "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" was voiced by Boris Karloff,...

It’s been sixteen years since the Grinch appeared on the big screen with Jim Carrey’s live-action portrayal.

Illumination Entertainment announced a new animated version of The Grinch set to be released November 10, 2017.

And Benedict Cumberbatch will be voicing the title character.

No new other details were revealed about the story plot of this movie. For the audiences at CinemaCon 2016, the studio showed a test video footage of the many faces of the Grinch and various styles of walk.

It will be directed Pete Candeland and Yarrow Cheney.

Check out the first look image below.

Source: Latino-Review.com, Universal, Illumination Entertainment...

Universal Pictures' CinemaCon presentation in Las Vegas earlier today boasted an appearance by Illumination Entertainment founder and CEO Chris Meledandri who announced new castings for two major 2017 titles.

One was that of "Sherlock" and "Doctor Strange" star Benedict Cumberbatch who has scored the title role of The Grinch in the company's newly-imagined CG animated version of the holiday classic about a green furry creature who hates Christmas.

Pete Candeland and Yarrow Cheney helm the new film adapted from Dr. Seuss book by Michael LeSieur. It is currently targeting a November 10th 2017 release.

Source: Variety...

It's not every actor who can go from Doctor Strange to Doctor Seuss. Universal Pictures dropped a major casting announcement at CinemaCon in Las Vegas Wednesday afternoon. As it turns out, Benedict Cumberbatch has an early holiday present for all his fans. E! News can confirm the actor will voice the iconic Grinch character in the upcoming holiday classic Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Set for a November 2017 release date, the movie will tell the tale of the Grinch who plots to ruin Christmas for the residents of his iconic village of Whoville. Pete Candeland and Yarrow Cheney are set to direct the holiday favorite. Perhaps the movie role comes at the perfect time. After all,...

Credit: Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures

During a presentation showcasing the future projects of Illumination Entertainment at CinemaCon today in Las Vegas, the company’s founder and CEO, Chris Meledandri, announced that Mowerminions – a never-before-seen short film starring the Minions – will debut with Illumination and Universal’s new film, The Secret Life Of Pets, when it arrives in theaters domestically on July 8, 2016, and also all around the world.

Correlating to the format in which The Secret Life Of Pets is showing in specific theaters, Mower Minions will be available in both 3D and 2D.

The short film stars the iconic Minions, who first appeared in the blockbuster Despicable Me series and who most recently starred in 2015’s massive hit Minions, which grossed more than $1.15 billion at the global box office and became the second-biggest animated title of all time. Continuing the unpredictable adventures of Gru’s curious and subversively sweet band of yellow brothers,...

Benedict Cumberbatch is The Grinch! And this time, he doesn't have to wear those painful contact lenses that almost made Jim Carrey walk off the set of the live-action adaptation back in 2000. Because this reboot of the popular Dr. Seuss story is going to be a fully animated feature film. Chris Meledandri of Illumination Entertainment, the company behind this new take on Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, made the announcement from CinemaCon 2016.

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas will be directed by Pete Candeland. The movie will arrive in theaters next year just in time for the Holiday season, debuting on November 10, 2017. Some footage was shown off to those in attendance for this massive Las Vegas convention. And it's said to be quite stellar. During the presentation, Chris Meledandri also showed off the first ten minutes of The Secret Life of Pets and the first 20 minutes of animated animal musical Sing.

“The Imitation Game” star Benedict Cumberbatch will voice the title role in a new animated version of “Dr. Seuss‘ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Illumination Entertainment founder and CEO Chris Meledandri announced Wednesday at CinemaCon. Pete Candeland and Yarrow Cheney are directing the new version of the popular holiday story from a script by Michael LeSieur. Universal is set to release the movie on Nov. 10, 2017. Meledandri, Janet Healy and Scott Mosier will produce, while Audrey Geisel and Chris Renaud serve as executive producers. Also Read: 'Doctor Strange' Trailer Gets High Marks From Fans The Illumination reboot is the latest onscreen incarnation.

Chris Meledandri and his Minions factory Illumination Entertainment took the stage at Cinema-Con to wow exhibitors with new footage and project revelations that included setting Benedict Cumberbatch to voice the title character in How The Grinch Stole Christmas, the Pete Candeland-directed animated feature based on the Dr Seuss creation that Universal releases November 10, 2017. Meledandri during Universal’s presentation teased some footage of that and also showed the…...

The British star has been cast in the lead role of Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s 2017 holiday season release.

Pete Candeland and Yarrow Cheney will direct the children’s film adapted from the Dr. Seuss book by Michael LeSieur.

Illumination head Chris Meledandri, who made the announcement during the Universal presentation at Cinemacon on Wednesday evening, will produce alongside Janet Healy and Scott Mosier. Audrey Geisel and Chris Renaud are executive producers.

Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas is scheduled for November 10, 2017, and will mark the first cinematic return to the property since Jim Carrey starred in Universal’s 2000 live-action version.

In other casting news, Meledandri revealed that South Park and Broadway smash The Book Of Mormon co-creator Trey Parker will voice the villain Balthazar Bratt in Despicable Me 3, set to open on June 30, 2017.

Bratt is an embittered former TV child star hell-bent on becoming the scourge of all those who mocked when he...

With Peanuts looking better with every new trailer, Warner Bros. is plotting a feature-length return for another classic cartoon – Hanna-Barbera series The Jetsons.

Hoping to transform the beloved show, about a family living in a futuristic utopia filled with fantastical technology, into an animated theatrical feature, the studio has hired Matt Lieberman to pen a script. Word is that Warner Bros. was impressed with Lieberman’s work on an animated Scooby-Doo project that it is putting together, and that’s what landed him this gig.

Lieberman, who honed his skills in the Disney Writers Program, has been everywhere in Hollywood recently. He penned spec script 12/24, a found-footage Santa Claus movie that 1492 scooped up; another spec called The Pet, which Disney has set Napoleon Dynamite helmer Jared Hess to direct; Paramount Animation’s Giant Monsters Attack Japan; sci-fi Short Circuit, which Alvin and the Chipmunks director Tim Hill has signed on to helm; Mr.

With Despicable Me 2 being one of the biggest money-making movies of the year ($935 million so far!) and all kinds of award nominations including The Oscar, of Course, there will be a third outing with Gru and the gang. Universal Studios says the movie will come out June 20, 2017. That does Not mean we all have to wait 3 1/2 years for more of our favorite sidekicks...Minions will open in theaters this Christmas (Dec. 19 to be exact). 

With all of us loving the animated movies coming from Universal and Illumination Entertainment, the filmmakers announced two more animated movies on the way. One is Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas from director Pete Candeland (seriously, the guy's last name is candy land...he's gotta understand kids, right?), which is nice follow up to Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. It's scheduled for Nov. 17, 2017. What other Dr. Seuss books would you like to see made?...

Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment have announced that they are in development on "Despicable Me 3" and "Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas." "Despicable Me 3" has been scheduled to hit theaters on June 30th, 2017 and will once again follow the adventures of Gru, Lucy, Margo, Edith, Agnes and the Minions. The first "Despicable Me" movie grossed $543 million on a budget of $69 million. The sequel went on to earn $935 million on a budget of only $76 million. Meanwhile, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" will be a newly-imagined animated version of the holiday classic. It's set to hit theaters on November 17th, 2017 and will be directed by Pete Candeland ("All Dogs Go to Heaven 2" animator) from a script by Michael LeSieur (You, Me and Dupree).

Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment have announced the release dates for three of their upcoming projects that include Despicable Me 3, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and an untitled comedy from writer-director Garth Jennings (Son of Rambow, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy).

Despicable Me 3 will be released in theaters on June 30th, 2017. It's coming from the same team who brought us Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2. There's no details about what the third film would entail, but it will continue the adventures of Gru, Lucy, Margo, Edith, Agnes, and of course, the Minions. 

Then we have a new animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The movie is set for release on November 17th, 2017, and it will be directed by Pete Candeland from a script written by Michael LeSieur. You all know the story for this, it's just another reimagining. 

As for the original animated untitled comedy,...

Universal Pictures will release a new How the Grinch Stole Christmas film and Despicable Me 3 in 2017.

Illumination Entertainment has added the two animations to its slate.

The remake of The Grinch will be the latest of its Dr Seuss adaptations, following The Lorax and arriving ahead of its planned Cat in the Hat film.

Pete Candeland will direct the film that will arrive 17 years after Jim Carrey's live action version on November 17, 2017.

Another instalment of the hit Despicable Me franchise will also be released on June 30, 2017, after the spinoff Minions.

Illumination is also working on two more, unannounced projects for 2016, one of which will arrive on December 21.

Catch up on all the latest TV and Movies releases in Digital Spy's Screen Time:...

Universal has just announced release dates for major upcoming animated projects from Illumination Entertainment.

The first is "Despicable Me 3" which plans to "continue the adventures of Gru, Lucy, their adorable daughters — Margo, Edith and Agnes — and the Minions". That film is locked in for a June 30th 2017 release.

The second is a new animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas which is slated for a November 17th 2017 release. Pete Candeland is directing this "newly imagined version of the enduring holiday classic."

The third is an untitled original animated comedy, due sometime in 2016, from "Son of Rambow" and "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" director Garth Jennings. The only hint of the plot? It's about "courage, competition and carrying a tune".

Source: Universal Pictures...

Revealing its animated family calendar for the near future, Universal announced Wednesday it will release Despicable Me 3 on June 30, 2017, and a new Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Nov. 17 of that year. Both movies are from Chris Meledandri's Illumination Entertainment, the powerhouse behind the Despicable Me franchise. Universal, which owns a piece of Meledandri's company, also announced a Dec. 21, 2016, release date for an untitled Illumination project. Pete Candeland is set to direct the newly imagined How the Grinch Stole Christmas from an adapted script by Michael LeSieur. The film, based on Dr.

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Universal Pictures top brass have announced a trio of key animation releases.

Despicable Me 3 will arrive in theatres on June 30 2017 and follows the barnstorming global run of its predecessor (pictured), which stands at $935.8m and counting.

Untitled Illumination Entertainment 2016 Project 2 will open on December 21 2016. Garth Jennings, who directed Son Of Rambow, will write and direct the story about “courage, competition and carrying a tune.”

Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas is set for November 17 2017. Pete Candeland will adapt a reimagined version of the children’s book adapted by Michael LeSieur.

According to reports, "Saw" screenwriters Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan will adapt the graphic novel "The Stuff of Legend" as a feature for Disney:

"...in 1944 Brooklyn, a band of toys go on a journey into the 'Dark Realm' to rescue their owner from the infamous 'Bogeyman'.

"In the Dark Realm, which is inside the owner's closet, they are changed. They become life sized, with functional weapons and, in the teddy bear's case, teeth. As they venture into the Dark, they battle the Bogeyman's forces, composed mostly of bitter, lost toys, fallen under the fearful powers of their Dark master..."

Disney art designer Peter Candeland will direct.

Click the images to enlarge...

Children.s entertainment and horror aren.t always the most likely of bedfellows, but some filmmakers are able to make the transition easily - sometimes simply by combining the genres. Joe Dante, who went from The Howling to Gremlins to Looney Tunes: Back in Action, is one of those filmmakers. But how about Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan, the two screenwriters responsible for scripting Saw IV through Saw 3D: The Final Chapter? We.ll be able to see just how well they.re able to tone down their murderous instincts, as they.ve been hired to write Disney.s live-action adaptation of the multi-volume graphic novel The Stuff of Legend, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Granted, this is all pretty dark material for a children.s tale, so it won.t be the biggest stretch. The project first came up last year when Disney attached animator Pete Candeland to direct...

Saw writers Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan have been hired to write the feature film adaptation of the comic book, The Stuff of Legend. They wrote seven of the eight Saw movies that were made. Pete Candeland will director the film, which is planned to blend both live action and CGI.

The comic was created by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith and illustrated by Charles Paul Wilson III. Here's the official description of the project, and it sounds like it will make for a great movie!

The year is 1944. An allied force advances along a war-torn beach in a strange land, outnumbered and far from home. Together, they fight the greatest evil they have ever known. Never ending waves of exotic enemies come crashing down on them, but they will not rest. Thousands of miles away, the world is on the brink of destruction. But here in a child's bedroom in Brooklyn,...

Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan have made a career out of messing with our heads and giving us one gore-soaked terror tale after another. Now they're looking to screw your kids up, too! Read on for details.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Melton and Dunstan, the writing team behind four of the seven Saw films, are moving into family-friendly territory as they have been tapped to adapt Disney's live-action family film The Stuff of Legend.

The project, which is based on a graphic novel written by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith and illustrated by Charles Paul Wilson III, revolves around a band of toys that journeys into a dark realm to rescue their owner from the infamous Boogeyman. Animator Peter Candeland (All Dogs Go to Heaven 2, "Aladdin") is attached to direct the film, which is being produced by David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman through their Disney-based Mandeville Films.

More as it comes.

The Stuff of Legend's movie adaptation is moving ahead, having appointed screenwriters.

Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan, who worked on four entries in the Saw franchise, will adapt the comic book for cinema.

Published by Th3rd World Studios, the Stuff of Legend comic series is written by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith, and illustrated by Charles Paul Wilson III.

The story takes place during World War II and follows a band of living toys who wage war against the Boogeyman and his army to protect their owner.

Pete Candeland will direct the movie adaptation, which will blend CGI animation with live-action sequences, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Stuff of Legend is yet to receive a release date.

The Hollywood Reporter have revealed that Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan will write The Stuff of Legend for Disney. The project is based on a graphic novel written by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith, with artwork from Charles Paul Wilson III. The family friendly story follows a group of toys who travel into a dark realm together in order to rescue their owner from the Boogeyman. Disney art designer Peter Candeland is currently attached to direct. Melton and Dunstan wrote four of the seven Saw movies, along with Piranha 3D and MGM's upcoming adaptation of The Outer Limits. They also did an uncredited rewrite on Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim.

Disney has hired Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan to adapt an upcoming adaptation of the graphic novel The Stuff of Legend.

Based on a graphic novel by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith, the story centers on a group of toys that journey to a dark realm to rescue their owner from the Boogeyman. The project will blend CGI with live action actors. Charles Paul Wilson III illustrated the novel.

Peter Candeland is directing this family film with David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman producing. Shawn Christensen was originally attached to pen the project, but became unavailable when his short film Curfew received a greenlight for a feature.

Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan wrote four of the seven Saw films and will be penning an upcoming adaptation of The Outer Limits at MGM. No production schedule has been released.

Scribes Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan ("Saw 4-7") have been set to pen the live-action family film "The Stuff of Legend" for Disney Pictures and Mandeville Films.

An adaptation of Mike Raicht and Brian Smith's graphic novel, the story revolves around a band of toys that travels into a dark realm to rescue their owner from the infamous Boogeyman.

Peter Candeland is attached to direct, while David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman will produce. Shawn Christensen was previously attached to pen the script but has had to depart due to other commitments.

Source: Heat Vision...

The screenwriters behind the last four Saw films (and Piranha 3Dd for good measure) will next adapt a family-friendly live-action film for Disney. Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton have been tapped to pen the treatment for The Stuff of Legend, adapted from the graphic novel written by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith and illustrated by Charles Paul Wilson III. Peter Candeland will direct the World War II-era story that centers on a group of toys who set out to rescue their owner from the clutches of the Boogeyman who dwells in the dark realm. Hit the jump for more. News of Dunstan and Melton's attachment to script The Stuff of Legend comes via Heat Vision. Shawn Christensen was previously attached to adapt the property which Disney made a pre-emptive pitch deal for last year, but became unavailable when his Oscar-winning short, Curfew, was greenlit for a feature treatment. With Christensen out of the picture,...

Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan, the writing team behind four of the seven Saw films, are moving into family-friendly territory. The pair have been tapped to adapt Disney's live-action family film The Stuff of Legend. The project, which is based on a graphic novel written by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith and illustrated by Charles Paul Wilson III, revolves around a band of toys that journeys into a dark realm to rescue their owner from the infamous Boogeyman. Story: How Horror Took Over Hollywood  Peter Candeland is attached to direct the film, which is being produced by David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman through their Disney-based Mandeville Films.

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Exclusive: Mad Men star Jon Hamm has signed on to provide the lead voice (alongside Sandra Bullock) in Minions, the Universal Pictures/Illumination Entertainment spinoff of the Despicable Me franchise. Bullock is set to voice Scarlet Overkill, a stylish bad-ass super-villain who is (what else?) bent on world domination. Hamm will voice her husband, the inventor Herb Overkill. The 3D CG animated comedy has been set for release December 19, 2014. At the same time, veteran animated feature film executive Tito Ortiz has returned to Chris Meledandri’s Illumination Entertainment in the position of VP Development. Ortiz was one of the original employees at Illumination when it opened its doors in 2007, serving as Director of Development until 2011, when he left the company to pursue opportunities in the music industry. Even during his hiatus, Ortiz stayed close to the company by assisting in development across multiple properties. In his new role, Ortiz will...

The 1966 version of the animated classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a fixture on our television at Christmas time and it’s hard to believe that Jim Carrey’s live action movie The Grinch came out way back in 2000. Has it really been that long? Anyway, the animated version is getting a makeover courtesy of Universal Pictures, Chris Meledandri and director Pete Candeland.

You may remember Chris Meledandri from other Dr. Seuss movies like Horton Hears a Who or The Lorax, and Pete Candeland is best known for his work music videos for The Gorillaz. We’re still waiting on a writer to be named for the picture, and a release date as well but some holiday soon, we’ll have a new Grinch movie to look forward to.

We’ll keep you posted on Chris Meledandri and Pete Candeland’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Film adaptations of Dr. Seuss' beloved children's books have been pulling in boatloads of cash over the past decade or so. With the exception of the live action The Cat in the Hat starring Mike Myers, all of them have been huge box office hits even when receiving mediocre reviews -- including Ron Howard's live action take on the holiday classic How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Of course, CG animation is now the medium of choice for almost every movie aimed at a family audience and with Illumination Entertainment in search of a follow-up to The Lorax, they have decided to turn back to this familiar tale once again. That's right, The Grinch is headed back to the screen for a third time... but will audiences be willing to pay to see it again so soon? According to THR, Universal has hired Peter Candeland to direct a new...

[<a href="//storify.com/areyouscreening/ru-news-roundup-2-11-13-pilots" target="_blank">View the story "Ru? News RoundUp 2/11/13 - Pilots, Film News, Streaming TV, Hate-Watching, And More" on Storify</a>]<p></p>

<h1>Ru? News RoundUp 2/11/13 – Pilots, Film News, Streaming TV, Hate-Watching, And More</h1>

<h2>It’s been a while, but after several requests (which shocked me more than anything), I’ve decided to try to bring back the News RoundUp. Apparently, if I only have to pay attention to things… people like that. Enjoy.</h2>

<p>Storified by <a href=”http://storify.com/areyouscreening”>areyouscreening</a>· Mon, Feb 11 2013 09:38:20</p>

<div>Kicking off movie news, the director of Secretary (and you’ve tuned out, or way, way in already) adds <a class=”zem_slink” href=”http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829576/” title=”Kristen Stewart” rel=”imdb” target=”_blank”>Kristen Stewart</a> and Elizabeth Banks to “The Big Shoe,” a film that supposedly mixes eroticism and comedy. What more could you want really?</div>

<div>Kristen Stewart and Elizabeth Banks Team for Erotic Comedy The Big Shoe – ComingSoon.netSecretary director Steven Shainberg is planning a new feature film that is said to blend comedy and eroticism. The Big Shoe, which was an…</div>

<div>On a similar casting front, <a class=”zem_slink” href=”http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1519680/” title=”Saoirse Ronan” rel=”imdb” target=”_blank”>Saoirse Ronan</a> is up for a crazy, but awesome,...

Oh. Dear. God. First Fox beat up my childhood with Horton Hears A Who! Then, Universal and Illumination Entertainment turned The Lorax into a pandering piece of colored plastic. Now, as if that was not enough, the same folks who brought us that piece of trite, embarassing hogwash (I wanted to use a stronger word, but this is a family site) have set their sights on yet another version of a beloved Seuss story: How The Grinch Stole Christmas.

Yep, Universal and Illumation Entertainment plan to do another adaptation of that beloved children’s book about how Christmas is all about love and togetherness and not conspicuous consumption. Because the live-action Jim Carrey vehicle of The Grinch just wasn’t enough to murder our collective childhood. They’ve got to try it again. Illumination chief Christopher Meledandri is even one of the people behind both Horton Hears A Who! and The Lorax.

Every Christmas, when all those holiday movies are playing on ABC Family, whose heart doesn't skip a beat when they read, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas? It's so exciting - there's Jim Carrey...and that Goth "Gossip Girl" when she was little...and then you remember: the movie is super suckish. 

Universal and Illumination Entertaiment, the animation studio behind Despicable Me, are trying to right the wrong. They'll make a 3D animated version of Dr. Seuss' holiday classic book with Audrey Geisel, the widow of Theodore Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss), executive producing the pic. Directing is a guy named Peter Candeland (that's right...candy land!) who worked as an animator on Beauty and the Beast: Enchanted Christmas and All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 before turning to directing commericals and music videos. Illumination's CEO Chris Meledandri will produce and he personally has a long standing relationship with the Seuss legacy,...