Ice Age director Chris Wedge has signed on to helm the live-action adaptation of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick’s award-winning hybrid prose/comics children’s book.
John Logan (Sweeney Todd, The Aviator) will write the screenplay for Warner Bros., Graham King’s GK Films and Johnny Depp’s Infinitum Nihil.
Selznick’s 533-page book blends comics and prose to tell the story of an orphan who lives in a Paris train station and crosses paths with an eccentric old man who turns out to be silent filmmaker George Melies.
GK Films and Warner Bros. acquired the rights to The New York Times bestseller last year. In January, Hugo Cabret won the prestigious Caldecott Medal for distinguished picture book.
The studio hopes to begin production in the fall.
Wonderful, very imaginative children’s book. The visuals have gotten most of the attention, but it’s nice read too. Definitely a great book to share with a child, especially if it’s one who’s a reluctant reader. The visuals might be just draws the kid into the story.
As for the movie, hmm. I was not at all impressed with the first Ice Age, so we didn’t bother with the sequel (no interest in part 3 either). That little rodent guy chasing the acorn? They should do a whole movie about HIM, since he was more interesting, and fun, than anyone else in the first Ice Age. Anyhow, has this director done anything else in live action?
Interesting that Depp’s company is involved though. Is he looking to appear in the movie? I’ll trust his instincts. Loved Sweeney Todd!
Comment by Shaun — May 6, 2008 @ 12:48 pm