The Fantastic Mr. Fox?

[MacGuffin]

Fox Animation Snares Fantastic Mr. Fox
Source: Variety

Variety reports that Fox Animation will turn the Roald Dahl classic Fantastic Mr. Fox into a film that will mix several forms of animation, primarily stop-motion.

Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach adapted the book; Anderson will direct and produce with Scott Rudin.

The book tells the story of a fox who uses its wits and cunning to outfox three dimwitted farmers who tire of sharing their chickens with the fox and resort to a shock-and-awe offensive.

The project was originally bought by Joe Roth and Revolution Studios in 2004. When Revolution folded, Fox Animation president Chris Meledandri moved in on the project.

Rudin and Anderson are already collaborating on Fox Searchlight's The Darjeeling Limited, with Anderson to direct; Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman star.

[MacGuffin]

Blanchett, Clooney do 'Fox' trot
Source: Hollywood Reporter

George Clooney is in negotiations and Cate Blanchett is in talks to voice the lead characters in Wes Anderson's "The Fantastic Mr. Fox." The stop-motion film, marking Anderson's first foray into animation, is expected to be distributed by 20th Century Fox as a negative pickup.

Produced by Scott Rudin Prods., "Mr. Fox" is an adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic children's story, centering on a clever fox who must outwit three mean, dimwitted farmers who try their hardest to hurt Mr. Fox and his family. Clooney would voice Mr. Fox, while Blanchett would voice his wife.

The movie is a reuniting of the actors, who recently worked together on Steven Soderbergh's "The Good German" for Warner Bros. Pictures. Anderson will turn to "Mr. Fox" as his next project after he completes his current film, "The Darjeeling Ltd.," which he is editing in New York for Fox Searchlight. The production will be set up in London, in a fashion similar to that of "Tim Burton's Corpse Bride," which also used stop-motion animation. Allison Abbate and Jeremy Dawson are producing.

[Gold Trumpet]

Source: Dark Horizons

The Fantastic Mr. Fox, a Wes Anderson-directed Roald Dahl-adapted film featuring the voices of George Clooney and Cate Blanchett, will come out November 6th, 2009. The first weekend of November is a prime spot for any film, so kudos to Fox for grabbing this up.

[Kal]

If I recall correctly, Wes Anderson got always pretty good release dates. Problem is that the studio does not do the marketing they should, and they release it on less than 1000 theatres, and stuff like that, which leads to another box office dissapointment.

[MacGuffin]

If I recall correctly, Wes Anderson got always pretty good release dates. Problem is that the studio does not do the marketing they should, and they release it on less than 1000 theatres, and stuff like that, which leads to another box office dissapointment.

That was with Disney. It should be different now that he's working with 20th Century Fox.

[tpfkabi]

2009?

Is this because stop motion takes (what i assume) a long time to do?

[MacGuffin]

Wes Anderson Enlists Bill Murray For 'The Fantastic Mr. Fox'
Source: MTV

It will be five films in a row for the collaboration that is Wes Anderson and Bill Murray. I talked to Anderson about his upcoming animated flick based on the Roald Dahl story and he confirmed his voice cast. "George Clooney is going to be Mr. Fox. Bill Murray has a part. Jason [Schwartzman] is doing a voice. That's our team," he told me.

But don't line up at the multiplex just yet...this one is still a long ways off. "It will take a couple years to do the animating," said "The Darjeeling Limited" helmer, adding that they are about to record the voices. As for the animation, "It's stop-motion. It's like 'Nightmare Before Christmas' or those Christmas specials. These [characters] have fur, so it's not like claymation."

It sounds like Anderson will make this one quite unique (big surprise). "The settings will be very natural. We want to use real trees and real sand, but it's all miniature," he said.

[Pubrick]

he should reshoot bottle rocket with bill murray in place of a wilson, both the short and the feature.

and hotel chevalier with bill murray in place of portman.

since he LOVES him so much.

[picolas]

jealous?

[Sleepless]

I have a friend in London who does animating and model-making, and he's in the process of trying to get hired on 'Fantastic Mr. Fox'. So I'm guessing they're not that far along in production? Or have they been busy recording the voices first, and then they start animating? Anyone?

[MacGuffin]

Jarvis Writing Music for Wes Anderson Kids Movie
"Fantastic Mr. Fox" would be an excellent nickname for Mr. Cocker, don't you think?
Source: Pitchfork Media

The joke goes that we indie rock types only get out to the movies when there's an Anderson (either one) or a coupla Coen brothers attached to the flick. However much truth there is in that statement, we can all agree that Wes Anderson's forthcoming stop-motion animation adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Fantastic Mr. Fox is not one to miss.

Especially now that Jarvis Cocker has signed on to lend a hand with the film's soundtrack. In an interview with Time Out Chicago (conducted by former Pitchfork contributor Brent DiCrescenzo), Jarvis reveals that he's written "three, four songs, and some of that might become bits of the score" for the film.

Cocker got on the subject following a line of questioning about his skepticism towards the Disney corporation, which he explored in the song "Disney Time" from his debut LP. "If you criticize Disney," Cocker points out, "the next step is 'do better.' I get the chance to do it myself and corrupt young minds." This can only end well.

Cocker's label was unable to confirm anything about this just yet.

Of course, Jarvis will take a little time out in Chicago over the weekend to take the stage at the Pitchfork Music Festival. He's got a pair of New York dates lined up after that, and then, presumably, it's back to the foxhole with him to work up more Fantastic new tunes, including that second solo joint. He told BBC6 Music earlier this week that the new album is going to "rock".

[OrHowILearnedTo]

For anyone in Canada or who gets CBC, Wes and Schwartzman are going to be on the hour george stroumboulopoulos on wednesday. I assume they're talking about this.

http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/upcoming.php

[New Feeling]

pretty sure this interview is from last year when they were promoting Darjeeling.  Worth watching though.

[OrHowILearnedTo]

possibly, but on his radio show he said new episodes were airing this week.

Whhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaatever

[Sleepless]

I have the screenplay. If anyone wants it PM me.