News

Gaumont has assembled a starry voice cast for Paul McCartney’s 3D-animated High in the Clouds including Celine Dion, Idris Elba, Lionel Richie, Hannah Waddingham, Ringo Starr, Jimmy Fallon, Clemence Poesy, Pom Klementieff and Alain Chabat.

Himesh Patel stars as the film’s main character, a teenage squirrel named Wirral who embarks on an extraordinary journey to set music free after accidentally sparking a revolution against a bossy diva-owl who has banned all music from his town.

The story about the power of family and freedom of expression through music is inspired by the children’s adventure book by McCartney,...

High in the Clouds, the animated film derived from Paul McCartney’s children’s book, has enlisted a star-studded voice cast. Legendary singer Celine Dion, Himesh Patel, and Hannah Waddingham are leading the cast based on the book of the same name. Stars such as Idris Elba, Lionel Richie, Beatle bandmate Ringo Starr, Jimmy Fallon, Clémence Poésy, Pom Klementieff, and Alain Chabat will also contribute to the film.

The film is directed by Tony Genkel (of the Amazing Maurice), with a script co-crafted by Jon Crocker and Toby Genkel. The...

Celine Dion, Himesh Patel and Hannah Waddingham will lead the voice cast of “High in the Clouds,” Paul McCartney’s anticipated 3D animated film which Gaumont (“Ballerina”) is producing and repping internationally.

Inspired by the children’s adventure book by Paul McCartney, Geoff Dunbar and Philip Ardagh, “High in the Clouds” will also bring together Idris Elba, Lionel Richie, Ringo Starr, Jimmy Fallon, Clémence Poésy, Pom Klementieff and Alain Chabat.

Celebrated independent animation filmmaker Toby Genkel (“The Amazing Maurice”) is directing the feature, from a script by Jon Crocker (“Paddington 2”), and production design by Patrick Hanenberger.

Gaumont has already pre-sold “High in the Clouds” to top distributors in major territories, including the U.K. (Sky UK Ltd.), German-speaking territories (Constantin Film), Eastern Europe (Vertical/Monolith/Aqs), Latin America (Imagem), Cis (Mint Films), Middle East (Four Star), South-East Asia/Taiwan/Hk (A Really Good Film), Greece (Tanweer), Portugal (Cinemundo), Israel...

New Line's remake of the hugely successful South Korean zombie flick Train to Busan has finally begun to pick up some speed, with V/H/S/2 director Timo Tjahjanto being brought aboard to helm the project. The Train to Busan Remake is being produced by Atomic Monster, which is headed up by modern horror movie maestro, James Wan, the man behind such frightening hits as Saw, Insidious and The Conjuring.

Atomic Monster's Michael Clear and Gaumont's Nicolas Atlan and Terry Kalagian will produce alongside Wan with Coin Operated's Gary Dauberman, who is adapting the screenplay. Judson Scott, Sidonie Dumas, Christophe Riandee and Johanna Byer are executive producing the upcoming remake.

Timo Tjahjanto first made his presence known back in 2013, directing the horrifying segment "Safe Haven" as part of the collaborative anthology V/H/S/2. Since then, the filmmaker has proven his talent for bloody action outings, directing The Raid...

Back in 2018, it was revealed that James Wan (The Conjuring) is producing and Gary Dauberman (Annabelle Comes Home) is writing a remake of Yeon Sang-ho's Train to Busan, and while the news front has been relatively quiet for the project since then, that silence has been broken today, with Deadline reporting that Timo Tjahjanto is "in negotiations" to direct the reimagining of the beloved zombie movie for New Line.

In addition to Wan, the remake will be produced by Michael Clear (alongside Wan under the Atomic Monster banner), as well as Dauberman (via his Coin Operated label) and Gaumont’s Nicolas Atlan and Terry Kalagian, with Judson Scott, Sidonie Dumas, Christophe Riandee, and Johanna Byer on board as executive producers.

Well-received by critics and at the box office (raking in more than $92 million worldwide according to Box Office Mojo), Train to Busan was followed by a sequel, Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula,...

Exclusive: The anticipated Train to Busan remake at New Line looks to be gaining steam as sources tell Deadline that Timo Tjahjanto is in negotiations to helm the pic based on the blockbuster South Korean hit.

Atomic Monster’s James Wan and Michael Clear and Gaumont’s Nicolas Atlan and Terry Kalagian will produce alongside Coin Operated’s Gary Dauberman, who is adapting the screenplay. Judson Scott, Sidonie Dumas, Christophe Riandee and Johanna Byer are executive producing.

The original film is a zombie apocalypse thriller directed by Sang-Ho Yeon that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016 and quickly became an international box office hit and critical smash. It spawned a sequel, Train to Busan: Peninsula, released in 2020.

When rights to the original hit the marketplace, every studio quickly moved to grab hold of something that could ultimately become a franchise. New Line ultimately won out.

As for Tjahjanto, his...

Netflix has ordered “Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles,” a new CGI animated kids’ series based on the award-winning “Usagi Yojimbo” comic books by Stan Sakai.

Produced by Gaumont, “Samurai Rabbit” marks the first animated TV adaptation inspired by Sakai’s comics. The show will follow a brand new character, teenage Rabbit Samurai Yuichi, a descendent of Miyamoto Usagi, the protagonist of the “Usagi Yojimbo” comic books.

Per Netflix, “The series takes place in the far future, set in a world that mixes modern high-tech images with classic Japanese references. It follows the teenage Rabbit Samurai Yuichi, descendent of the great warrior Miyamoto Usagi, on his epic quest to become a true samurai. But he isn’t alone! He leads a ragtag team of misfit heroes – including a roguish bounty hunter, a cunning ninja, an acrobatic pickpocket and a faithful pet lizard – as he battles depth-charging moles, metal-tipped winged bats, and monsters from another dimension,...

The world of the iconic “Usagi Yojimbo” comic books is coming to television for the first time.

Netflix is teaming with Gaumont on a CGI animated series titled “Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles,” which is based on the 35-year-old comic book series by Stan Sakai.

Rather than centering around the comic books’ protagonist Miyamoto Usagi, the series will take place in the far future and follow the teenage Rabbit Samurai Yuichi, descendent of the aforementioned great warrior, on his epic quest to become a true samurai. Yuichi will lead a ragtag team of misfit heroes – including a roguish bounty hunter, a cunning ninja, an acrobatic pickpocket and a faithful pet lizard – as he battles depth-charging moles, metal-tipped winged bats, and monsters from another dimension, all in the pursuit to become the best samurai Usagi.

Sakai will serve as an executive producer on the show, along with Gaumont’s Nicolas Atlan,...

Netflix has set the first animated TV series based on the long-running Usagi Yojimbo comic books by Stan Sakai. The streamer today announced Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles, which is set in a world that mixes modern high-tech images with classic Japanese references.

Spawned from Sakai’s comics that began in 1984 and counting James Wan among its executive producers, the CGI Samurai Rabbit follows the teenage Rabbit Samurai Yuichi, descendent of the great warrior Miyamoto Usagi, on his epic quest to become a true samurai. But he isn’t alone. He leads a ragtag team of misfit heroes – including a roguish bounty hunter, a cunning ninja, an acrobatic pickpocket and a faithful pet lizard – as he battles depth-charging moles, metal-tipped winged bats and monsters from another dimension, all in the pursuit to become the best samurai Usagi.

The series hails from Sakai — creator, writer and illustrator of the comic book...

McCartney created original songs and music for film based on children’s adventure novel he co-wrote.

Netflix has boarded Gaumont’s animated feature adaptation of Paul McCartney’s children novel High In The Clouds revolving around the woodland adventures of a young squirrel.

McCartney co-wrote the 2005 adventure novel with Philip Ardagh and it was illustrated by Geoff Dunbar.

”I’ve always loved animated films and this is a hugely important passion project for me. I can’t wait for the world to see it,” said McCartney, who has created and produced all the original songs and music for the film.

Netflix has come aboard Sir Paul McCartney’s long-gestating animated film High In The Clouds, which is based on the children’s adventure novel of the same title written by the iconic Beatles musician as well as Geoff Dunbar and Philip Ardagh. The project hails from French company Gaumont, which optioned the book back in 2012 after it had been in development since 2009.

Timothy Reckart, who earned an Oscar nomination for his 2012 animated short Head Over Heels and directed the 2017 animation film The Star, is directing High In The Clouds from a screenplay by Paddington scribe Jon Croker.

It’s a story of an imaginative teenage squirrel named Wirral who finds himself pulled into a ramshackle gang of teenage rebels who live high in the clouds after he accidentally antagonizes Gretsch the owl, the tyrannical leader (and fabulous singer!), who steals the voice of anyone who upstages her.

Producers are Bob Shaye,...

Netflix is going to get high high high with its adaptation of “High in the Clouds,” a children’s book written by Paul McCartney, Netflix announced Tuesday.

Netflix is producing an animated feature film based on McCartney’s book “High in the Clouds” first published in 2005. Netflix will produce along with Gaumont, which originally optioned the book back in 2017.

Timothy Reckart is directing from a screenplay by Jon Croker, who wrote both of the “Paddington” films. McCartney himself will also produce and provide original songs and music for the movie.

Also Read: Watch Rihanna and Paul McCartney's 'How Are You on My Flight?' Midair Reunion (Video)

“High in the Clouds” is the story of an imaginative teenage squirrel named Wirral who finds himself pulled into a ramshackle gang of teenage rebels who live high in the clouds after he accidentally antagonizes Gretsch the owl, the tyrannical leader (and fabulous singer!

Paul McCartney is collaborating with Netflix and Gaumont on the animated feature “High in the Clouds,” based on the children’s novel he wrote with Geoff Dunbar, and Philip Ardagh.

McCartney is producing and contributing songs to the film, which centers on an imaginative teenage squirrel named Wirral who find himself pulled into a ramshackle gang of teenage rebels who live high in the clouds. He accidentally antagonizes Gretsch the owl, the tyrannical leader who steals the voice of anyone who upstages her.

Timothy Reckart is directing from a script by Jon Croker, who has credits on the Paddington movies and “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Besides McCartney, the producers include Bob Shaye (“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy), the late Michael Lynne, Sidonie Dumas, Christophe Riandee, Nicolas Atlan and Terry Kalagian (Gaumont).

“High in the Clouds” was published in 2005. McCartney set the project up with Shaye and Lynne...

Gaumont has appointed Courtney Arumugam, a former executive at The Bright Agency, to the post of creative development of animation & family, as it aims to ramp up its presence in the U.K. and beyond. Gaumont opened a London office last year.

Under the helm of Nicolas Atlan, the president of Gaumont’s animation & family, the company is pursuing its strategy to expand the development and production of kids content in key countries throughout Europe.

Prior to joining Gaumont, Arumugam worked at the UK-based literary and illustration company The Bright Agency where she served as senior creative executive and headed the banner’s newly launched in-house film and TV division. Arumugan also spent several years at Mattel where she developed animated and live action content based on original and existing IP.

“Courtney (Arumugam) is a great addition to our team, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge across development, animation...

Gaumont is set to expand its animation and family entertainment division with the appointment of Los Angeles-based industry veteran Alex Soto as creative director.

In his new role, which Gaumont has just created, Soto will be responsible for the artistic vision of Gaumont’s series, building the creative teams for each project in development.

Current projects include Stan Sakai’s comic book series “Usagi Yojimbo;””Touch the Earth” and “Heal The Earth” from New York Times bestselling children’s book authors Julian Lennon and Bart Davis; “Molly and the Cryptos” with France Television; “Bionic Max” with French channel Gulli; “The Star Shards Chronicles,” based on the Ya novels by The New York Times best-selling author Neal Shusterman; and “The Mice Templar,” based on the best-selling comic book series by Bryan J.L. Glass, among others.

Soto most recently served as head of creative development for Spin Master Entertainment, where he oversaw...

As Gaumont makes a big animation push, the French mini-major has added former Disney executive Kimberly Dennison as vp creative development at its U.S. division.

Dennison joins Gaumont from Disney, where she served as director of development for the animated TV division.

Based in L.A., she will report to Terry Kalagian, who has been upped to senior vp. Dennison willl work in coordination with Gaelle Guiny, who holds the same title in France.

Animation and Family division president Nicolas Atlan said the studio will continue to expand its development of series and theatrical features.

"Since joining Gaumont ...

As Gaumont makes a big animation push, the French mini-major has added former Disney executive Kimberly Dennison as vp creative development at its U.S. division.

Dennison joins Gaumont from Disney, where she served as director of development for the animated TV division.

Based in L.A., she will report to Terry Kalagian, who has been upped to senior vp. Dennison willl work in coordination with Gaelle Guiny, who holds the same title in France.

Animation and Family division president Nicolas Atlan said the studio will continue to expand its development of series and theatrical features.

"Since joining Gaumont ...

Gaumont has made a deal to turn Julian Lennon’s book trilogy Touch The Earth into an animated TV series. The second volume, Heal The Earth, gets published this month by Sky Pony Press.

Lennon and his children’s book collaborator Bart Davis will be executive producers and will work on the project with Gaumont President of Animation Nicolas Atlan, and Terry Kalagian, Senior Vice President, Creative Development for Animation & Family. Kimberly Dennison will be the presiding exec.

The adventure preschool series invites readers to board the magical White Feather airplane and aid in the preservation of the planet’s oceans and water supplies, with themes of environmentalism and social issues running through its episodes.

“It is an exciting time as we engage in the process of connecting the right creatives to the project who will share the passion for the show’s messages and themes,” Lennon said in a statement.

Rainmaker Entertainment, the Vancouver-based full service, CG animation studio has named Terry Kalagian, VP of Business Development, per Warren Franklin, CEO and Catherine Winder, President. Kalagian, a veteran animation producer/development consultant, will focus her efforts on cross-platform distribution opportunities for Rainmaker.s original content, as well as work-for-hire projects and newly revived ReBoot properties, working on Rainmaker.s internal development slate with Kimberly Dennison, Director of Development. ReBoot, Rainmaker's groundbreaking CG animated TV series from the mid-1990's, will be revitalized through a series of feature length and short form projects, with fans already participating in the development efforts via the official ReBoot Fansite . Luna, the first of a series of original animated shorts is currently in production. Kalagian previously spent ten years with the Cartoon Network, as VP Research and VP of Programming, Acquisitions and Co-Productions, participating in the development of Wulin Warriors, Atomic Betty, Code Lyoko, Scary Godmother II,...