From Variety Nov. 2, 2009:
DreamWorks sets scribe for 'Guardians' - Lindsay-Abaire to adapt Joyce seriesMichael Fleming wrote:Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire has been set to adapt "The Guardians," a DreamWorks Animation adaptation of the upcoming series of children's books by William Joyce.
The film extends the studio's relationship with Lindsay-Abaire, who was Tony-nominated for writing the book and lyrics to "Shrek the Musical."
"The Guardians" will be directed by Peter Ramsey, who steps up to features after helming "Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins From Outer Space," the Halloween TV special that was a spinoff of the DreamWorks Animation pic. Ramsey had been head of story for the original "Monsters vs. Aliens."
DreamWorks Animation has set a November 2, 2012, release.
The Guardians are a group of iconic figures sworn to protect children from the forces of evil. Their ranks include Santa Claus, Jack Frost, the Easter Bunny and the Man in the Moon. The books, a mix of text and illustrations, will be published in 2011 under the title "The Guardians of Childhood." Each book focuses on one of the Guardians. Joyce, the creator of "Rolie Polie Olie" and "Meet the Robinsons," will be co-director.
Christina Steinberg and Nancy Bernstein will produce, and Michael Siegel is exec producer.
Lindsay-Abaire was previously a writer on the Fox Animation pic "Robots," also based on Joyce's artwork. The writer, who won his Pulitzer for "Rabbit Hole," adapted that play for a film starring and produced by Nicole Kidman for release next year. He also co-wrote "Spider-Man 4," which Columbia Pictures puts into production early next year.
From Variety Dec. 3, 2009:
DiCaprio set for animated feature - Actor to voice Jack Frost in 'The Guardians'Leonardo DiCaprio is getting animated for the first time in his career. He'll make his toon debut in DreamWorks Animation's "The Guardians," voicing a twist on the Jack Frost character.
Just as DWA's "Shrek" offered a revisionist view of the fairy-tale universe, "The Guardians" reimagines five popular childhood heroes -- Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman and Jack Frost -- as members of an elite superhero squad who join forces to fight an evil spirit named Pitch (which suggests there are at least five more juicy voice parts yet to be filled).
The high-concept variation hails a forthcoming series of books by William Joyce to be called "The Guardians of Childhood." Produced by Christina Steinberg and Nancy Bernstein, toon is targeted for release on Nov. 2, 2012, and marks the feature debut of director Peter Ramsey, who helmed the DWA Halloween special "Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins From Outer Space."
From Variety:
DreamWorks Animation draws up talent - Chris Pine, Hugh Jackman among stars of 3D 'Rise of the Guardians'Chris Pine, Hugh Jackman, Jude Law, Alec Baldwin and Isla Fisher will voice the lead roles in DreamWorks Animation's 3D epic "Rise of the Guardians."
Peter Ramsey is directing the pic based on "The Guardians of Childhood," an upcoming series of children's books by William Joyce, who will co-direct.
Guillermo del Toro and Michael Siegel are exec producing, while Christina Steinberg and Nancy Bernstein will serve as producers.
Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire wrote the screenplay, which follows a group of heroic childhood legends, each with extraordinary abilities. When Pitch (Law), an evil spirit akin to the Boogeyman, lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, the immortal Guardians must join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs and imagination of children all over the world.
The project was originally announced in December 2009, with Leonardo DiCaprio voicing Jack Frost, a role than Pine will be taking over. He'll be joined by Jackman's Bunnymund (the Easter Bunny), Baldwin's North (Santa Claus) and Fisher's Tooth (the Tooth Fairy).
"It's a thrill to be working with such an all-star team of actors and filmmakers," Bill Damaschke, DWA's Chief Creative Office, said in a statement to Variety. "When we bring Bill Joyce's imaginative vision to the screen in 2012, audiences will experience an incredible story with a truly epic sense of adventure."
DWA will release the film on Nov. 21, 2012.