The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

[Sleepless]

72teeth is just gonna keep getting broken legs every time he stumbles in this thread.   

[72teeth]

What can i say, casts are warmer than socks!

[MacGuffin]

Steven Spielberg reveals more Tintin plans
Source: The Dominion Post

Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson may go a step further in their plans for three Tintin movies - by jointly directing the third instalment.

Spielberg raised the possibility before the release of his latest film, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which had its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival at the weekend.

"We are going to make three Tintin movies back-to-back. I'll direct the first one, Peter will direct the second one. We'll probably co-direct the third one."

It was too early to say which of the Tintin books would be filmed. The first would start in September.

Spielberg had never heard of Tintin till 1981, when a film critic compared his first Indiana Jones adventure, Raiders of the Lost Ark, to the books.

[MacGuffin]

Spielberg Still Taking First Tintin Shift

The Tintin tag-teaming has begun.

Steven Spielberg is still slated to direct the first of three planned films about the mystery-solving Belgian reporter and his trusty fox terrier Snowy, despite recent word from the Brussels studio that owns the rights to the characters that Peter Jackson would be doing the honors for Tintin's first outing.

Reps for both filmmakers say that Jackson—who will serve as a producer on the Spielberg-directed installment—is still onboard to helm the next film in the would-be franchise, based on the classic European comic strip by George Remi, who published his creations under the pen name Hergé.

A rep for Hergé Studios had said earlier Tuesday that Jackson would be the first to step behind the camera and Spielberg would be indirectly involved in the filming, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Either way, the first movie will be adapted from two books in the Adventures of Tintin series—The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham's Treasure, written between 1942 and 1944. Dr. Who scribe Stephen Moffat penned the script.

And now Tintin's signature carrot top will reach new heights: The originally 2-D traveler is being brought to the big screen with Polar Express-style motion-capture animation technology.

British teen Thomas Sangster (Liam Neeson's lovestruck son in Love Actually) will wield Tintin's heavily stamped passport and motion-capture veteran Andy Serkis, of Gollum fame, is stepping into the role of his crusty sailor pal, Captain Haddock.

Before it's Jackson's turn to fashion a Tintin adventure, he will finish postproduction on The Lovely Bones and cowrite The Hobbit with Guillermo del Toro, who was tapped to direct the Lord of the Rings prequel after Jackson dropped out.

[MacGuffin]

Studio says no to Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson
Squeezed by rising costs and leveling revenues, Universal Pictures declines to finance 'Tintin.'
By Claudia Eller, Los Angeles Times

Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson don't hear "no" very often.

But after they submitted a final budget of $130 million for their 3-D animated movie "Tintin," based on the Belgian comic strip, to Universal Pictures, the studio balked. The decision has left the two powerful filmmakers scrambling to find another financial partner.

When even Spielberg and "The Lord of the Rings" director Jackson, who have made some of the biggest blockbusters in history, can't get their movie made, you know something is up in Hollywood. Universal's refusal to finance "Tintin" underscores how in today's tough economic climate, bottom-line concerns trump once-inviolable relationships between studios and talent.

Until now, however, filmmakers of Spielberg's and Jackson's stature were thought to be immune to the brass-knuckles tactics of the studios. Squeezed by a business trapped between rising costs and leveling revenues, the two filmmakers are Hollywood's latest -- and most prominent -- victims of cost containment.

Movie studios have long entered into financial arrangements with talent for reasons other than pure economic reward. Sometimes a deal is made for the prestige of associating with a famous actor or director; sometimes it is done in the belief that half a financial loaf from a proven hit maker is less risky than a whole one from an untested filmmaker; and still other times it happens simply to keep relations warm so the talent will want to work for the studio.

The particular problem for Universal with "Tintin" is that Spielberg's and Jackson's involvement comes with a huge price tag. The two filmmakers together would command such a large percentage of the movie's revenue as part of their compensation -- without putting up any of the capital themselves, as is typical in Hollywood -- that it takes a substantial slice of the profit off the table for the backers.

Studios in recent times have shunned some costly deals with filmmakers and stars. Fox decided not to make the comedy "Used Guys" in 2006 with Jim Carrey and Ben Stiller after concluding the deals with the actors outweighed the odds of making its money back. And many in Hollywood also remember how Paramount Pictures just barely broke even the same year on "Mission: Impossible III." Even though the movie grossed nearly $400 million worldwide, its star and producer Tom Cruise pocketed more than $80 million.

And "Tintin" is arguably a very risky project. It is based on the 1929-to-1976 book series written by the late Georges Remi, under the pen name Herge, about the global adventures of a young reporter and his dog, Snowy. The comics have a loyal following in Europe but are mostly obscure to U.S. audiences.

Paramount, which owns DreamWorks, where Spielberg has been developing "Tintin" for many years, had agreed to finance half the film but was hoping to have a financial partner in Universal. Paramount, a Viacom Inc. unit, has shouldered the vast majority of the more than $30 million spent on scripts, character design and initial animation and 3-D tests -- even before the movie had officially been given the green light for production. (Those costs are included in the $130-million budget.)

Spielberg has wanted to make "Tintin" since 1983, when he optioned the movie rights at his Universal-based production company, Amblin Entertainment. He has conceived the project as a trilogy, with the first film to be directed by him, the second by Jackson and no plans yet for the third.

Spielberg hoped that "Tintin" would be the next movie he would direct, with production to begin this month. The first two movies, using so-called motion-capture technology, were to be filmed back to back, similar to how Jackson made the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

But in a surprising move, when Spielberg and Jackson approached Universal, which has had a long-standing option to co-finance the picture, the studio decided that the deal made no financial sense. According to several people close to the project, "Tintin" would have to rake in $425 million worldwide in ticket sales before the studios could break even.

The reason: Spielberg and Jackson, who would also produce both movies, would together grab about 30% of the studio's total gross revenue from box-office, DVD, television and other sales. Under that scenario, the pair would walk away with more than $100 million before Universal and DreamWorks could make a profit.

To add embarrassment to injury, Universal's decision to pull out of "Tintin" thrusts Spielberg into a highly awkward situation. The director, along with his partner David Geffen, is getting ready to extricate himself from Paramount after a stormy 2 1/2 -year association.

As a result, Spielberg is having to go hat in hand to ask Paramount to finance all of "Tintin" at the same time he faces delicate negotiations regarding his and Geffen's split from the studio. Those talks, among other things, are likely to involve scores of projects that the director wants to take with him to his new home as well those he could produce at Paramount.

Universal, as it turns out, is also the leading contender to distribute DreamWorks' new movies once it breaks free from Paramount. But as solely a distributor, Universal would not have any investment in the movies and would have no money at risk.

In deciding not to back "Tintin," Universal may have been swayed by the spotty box-office track record for motion- or performance-capture movies. "Tintin" would be produced in digital 3-D animation using performance capture technology, in which actors wear body sensors that record their movement. That information is then fed into a computer and digitally manipulated.

Such motion-capture films as "The Polar Express," "Beowulf" and "Monster House" have performed considerably below the $425-million box-office gross benchmark that "Tintin" would need to reach to break even.

Late last month, Spielberg and Jackson showed a group of 10 Paramount executives, including Chairman Brad Grey and Vice Chairman Rob Moore, a 10-minute sample of what the movie would look like that was produced at Jackson's New Zealand visual effects company, Weta Digital.

Paramount executives are analyzing the economics of "Tintin" and are expected to decide shortly whether to bankroll the entire movie. If they do, Spielberg hopes to begin shooting next month.

[MacGuffin]

Pegg, Frost for Tintin?
Spielberg considering duo for film.

Rumours are buzzing around the internet that Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz duo Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have been cast in Steven Spielberg's upcoming Tintin film.

The talk stems from an interview Pegg gave to English rag The Times, where he said he met up with the bearded director on set. He said: "I shook his hand and chatted about films. He gave me the mo-cap [motion-capture] camera, and I had a play around with it. Then he said, 'Hey, maybe you and Nick Frost could play the Thompson Twins.' In Tintin. A Spielberg movie. To work with him is beyond..."

Thompson and Thomson were a pair of bumbling mustachioed detectives who provided comic relief throughout Herge's comics, usually because they were trying to arrest the wrong man.

We're not sure how the rather different looking Pegg and Frost could play the duo who, despite having different names, looked almost identical and were often referred to as twins.

Spielberg is currently filming the first installment of a planned trilogy of motion-capture adventures revolving around the young Belgiun detective (Thomas Sangster) and his friend Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis).

[MacGuffin]

Sony, Paramount financing 'Tintin'
Steven Spielberg directing first film of series
Source: Variety

Sony Pictures Entertainment and Paramount Pictures are in talks to co-finance "Tintin," Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson's digital 3-D pic based on the Belgian "Tintin" comics.

After resolving the Paramount-DreamWorks divorce, putting together a studio deal for "Tintin" was next on Spielberg's agenda. After Universal balked at partnering on what's hoped to be the first installment in a franchise, with Spielberg to direct, Par offered to fully back the movie with a reduced backend at $135 million for the two gross participants. When the filmmakers held out for a better deal, a partner became a viable alternative.

While neither Sony nor Paramount would comment, both confirmed talks are under way for one film.

Spielberg had hoped to be in production by fall. However, when financing fell apart at U on the eve of the DreamWorks/Par divorce, he lost the participation of his lead actor, Thomas Sangster. Nonetheless, "Tintin" is expected to be completed in time for a 2010 release. The original plan was for Jackson to direct the sequel.

In the deal being negotiated, Paramount is planning to distribute in North America and some other English-speaking territories, while Sony would handle the foreign release. "Tintin" would no longer have any association with DreamWorks.

Spielberg and Jackson were originally teaming to direct and produce three consecutive features based on Georges Remi's beloved comicstrip hero Tintin. Spielberg and Jackson selected three stories from Remi's "The Adventures of Tintin" series, which encompassed 23 books published between 1929 and 1976 about an intrepid junior reporter and his dog Snowy, who track down stories to the ends of the Earth.

The director of the third film in the planned trilogy was always up in the air, and a script was never written.

Kathleen Kennedy joins Spielberg and Jackson as a producer on the three films, but the deal under discussion appears to be for the first one.

"Tintin" has long been a passion project for Spielberg; he and Kennedy have held various film rights to the comedic adventure book series off and on for more than 25 years. Jackson also has long been a fan of the comicbooks. His New Zealand-based Weta Digital, the f/x house behind "The Lord of the Rings" franchise, produced a 20-minute test reel bringing to life the characters created by Remi, who wrote under the pen name of Herge.

The films are expected to be lensed using photorealistic performance-capture techniques.

With Sony on board and a second Jackson lensed film not yet financed, it is unclear what Weta Digital's involvement will be on the "Tintin" franchise.

Jackson has delivered to Paramount his DreamWorks film "The Lovely Bones," based on Alice Sebold's bestseller. It's set for a fall 2009 release.

[MacGuffin]

Pegg and Frost in Spielberg's Tintin!
Source: Aint It Cool News

Ain't It Cool News has received word that Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (the Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz duo) have landed the roles of Thomson and Thompson in director Steven Spielberg and producer Peter Jackson's Tintin.

The movie will be animated with motion-capture technology and star Andy Serkis as Tintin's friend Captain Haddock. Thomas Sangster was previously set to play Tintin but had to drop out because of scheduling conflicts. A new Tintin has not been announced.

DreamWorks' first "Tintin" feature, targeted for a 2010 release, will be based on two of the books, "The Secret of the Unicorn" and "Red Rackham's Treasure," written by Tintin creator Herge between 1942 and 1944.

The second film will be directed by Jackson.

[MacGuffin]

Jamie Bell and Daniel Craig Join Tintin!
Source: ComingSoon

Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment today announced the start of principal photography on the 3D motion capture feature The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Jamie Bell and Daniel Craig. The full press release:

Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment have announced the start of principal production in Los Angeles on the 3D Motion Capture Film "The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn," directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Jamie Bell ("Billy Elliot," "Defiance") as Tintin, the intrepid young reporter whose relentless pursuit of a good story thrusts him into a world of high adventure, and Daniel Craig ("Quantum of Solace," "Defiance") as the nefarious Red Rackham.

Bell and Craig are joined by an international cast that includes Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Gad Elmaleh, Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook.

"The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn," from a screenplay by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish, is produced by Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Kathleen Kennedy, is the first in the series of 3D motion capture films based on the iconic character created by Georges Remi, better known to the world by his pen name "Herge" and is due for release in 2011. Executive producers are Nick Rodwell, Stephane Sperry and Ken Kamins. Paramount Pictures will release domestically and in all English speaking territories and Asia, excluding India. Sony Pictures Releasing International will distribute the film in Continental Europe, Eastern Europe, Latin America, India and the remainder of the world.

The second feature in the series is scheduled to be directed by Jackson, with a potential for a third film as well.

Eighty years ago, Herge introduced the world to a unique cast of characters who have been embraced by readers of all ages. The Adventures of Tintin - a series of 24 books, the final unfinished adventure was published after Herge's - death became Herge's life's work. The first adventure was published in 1929. Over 200 million copies have been sold worldwide. The popular series has been translated into 70 languages and still attracts thousands of new fans each year.

Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson will bring Herge's stories to life employing state-of-the-art performance capture technology developed by Jackson's Weta Digital.

[polkablues]

A few things:

- Jamie Bell as Tintin makes me much happier than Thomas Sangster.  I don't even like saying Sangster.  "Sangster".  Ugh.

- Pegg and Frost is great news and all, but I'm more excited about Edgar Wright as co-writer.  Let him direct the third movie, Spielberg!  I'm assuming there's still going to be a third movie... I'm an optimist and shit.

- It's been over a year; where's the goddamn WETA test footage???

[matt35mm]

Oh yeah, just quietly re-enter the XIXAX family after having abandoned us for almost a year.

STOP BEING LIKE MY DAD, POLKA!

[polkablues]

I didn't want you to find out this way, but... I AM YOUR DAD.

Hug?

[hedwig]

i knew you'd be back.

[MacGuffin]

I didn't want you to find out this way, but... I AM YOUR DAD.

[polkablues]

Wait!  The paternity test results are back....


(Dramatic reenactment)