Sony Pictures Animation is revisiting the world of Smurfs while giving the film series a facelift, and the studio will be inviting Dracula back to Hotel Transylvania‘s sequel as confirmed by Sony Pictures Digital Productions President Bob Osher. “I am really excited by the variety of our upcoming projects as well as the amazing talent working on them,” said Osher, announcing the slate of projects coming to theaters in the next few years.
Here are the details:
— Sony Pictures Animation has hired animation industry veteran Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2, Gnomeo & Juliet) to direct an all-new, fully computer-animated film featuring the world’s most popular blue creatures. The family adventure, currently going by the working title The Untitled Smurfs Movie, is anticipated in theaters August 2015. Jordan Kerner (The Smurfs) is producing, with Mary Ellen Bauder (Hotel Transylvania) co-producing. The original two live-action/CG hybrid Smurfs movies from Sony Pictures Animation grossed a combined $910 million worldwide.
— Genndy Tartakovsky will return to the director’s chair for Hotel Transylvania 2 scheduled for September 2015, which will bring back Adam Sandler’s Dracula. Sandler and Robert Smigel are taking on writing duties for the comedy.
— The uber prolific Genndy Tartakovsky is also busy working an all-new CG take on the comic strip hero, Popeye, all the while developing an original idea for Sony Pictures Animation titled Genndy Tartakovsky’s Can You Imagine?, described as a fantastic journey through one boy’s imagination. Producer Michelle Murdocca will once again work closely with Tartakovsky.
“I’m really excited about taking the Smurfs in a completely new fresh direction,” said Shrek 2 director Kelly Asbury. “We’re not making a Smurfs 3 film. Our character designs and environments will be stylistically closer to the original artwork created by Peyo. Our story will explore the beginnings of the beloved little blue creatures in a fun full CG animated comedy-adventure for every generation to enjoy.”
“It’s good to be back at the Hotel Transylvania, and I’m very excited to work on Popeye, a character that I’ve loved since I was a kid,” explained Tartakovsky. “I’m also looking forward to developing an entirely new and original animated feature here at Sony Pictures Animation. This is an exciting time for me and for the studio.”
