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Paramount and Nickelodeon are reportedly think, think, thinking about a new continuation for Jimmy Neutron.

The Jimmy Neutron franchise kicked off in 2001 with the smash hit, computer-animated feature film Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. Following the success of the movie, Nickelodeon was quick to start work on an animated series starring the character. Thus, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius was spawned.

The cartoon ran from 2002 to 2006 and a spin-off entitled Planet Sheen followed shortly after. Since then, however, the Jimmy Neutron property has laid dormant.

Read full article on The Direct.

Since entering the world of original programming, Nickelodeon has produced an abundance of television series, movies, and specials. Popular as sitcoms like iCarly and Drake and Josh may be, what they're arguably best known for are their animated series. Affectionately known as "Nicktoons," there have been 64 of these programs in the network's history.

Since the '90s, Nicktoons like Rugrats and Spongebob Squarepants have been staples of children's television. Some are purely focused on comedy, while others contain heavy drama and/or action. And while modern Nickelodeon does have excellent Nicktoons, like The Loud House and Transformers: EarthSpark, it is clearly looking across the board that the brand peaked in the '90s and 2000s.

The Legend of Korra is a Worthy Sequel to a Legend

The Legend of Korra is a series that has just as many fans as it does haters. It's far more flawed than its classic predecessor,...

The 1990s were a monumental decade for animation. Plenty of kids who came of age during this time fondly remember watching classics of the medium on their television sets while Disney was in the midst of another renaissance with the likes of "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King" gracing the big screen. That quality carried over into the 2000s with plenty of series that still proved animation was something that could be enjoyed by people of all ages.

The best 2000s cartoons primarily consist of those marketed toward kids, but there are a few adult animated shows gracing this list that were for a more (im)mature mindset. The main criteria for this list is that a show needs to have had its best episodes during the years from 2000 to 2009. That means even if something debuted during the '90s or carried over into the 2010s, as long...

Stream ‘Futurama’ on Hulu, ‘The Simpsons’ on Disney+, ‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ on Prime Video and get it all for just $20 per month.

Who says the medium of animation is only for kids? Animation is a mode of storytelling that’s highly adaptable, and plenty of writers over the years have made some very high-quality animated series that are definitely not for viewers of all ages. There’s some incredible adult animation out there on various streaming services, but with prices going higher and higher it can feel like an impossible task to watch them at a reasonable price.

Below, I’ve assembled a streaming bundle that will allow fans of adult animation to watch their all-time favorites as well as new shows, all for just $20 per month!

What’s the Best Streaming Bundle for Adult Animation for $20

Disney Duo Basic Bundle

Prime Video

Pluto TV

Disney Duo Basic Bundle

For only $11 per month,...

Toei Animation, the famous Japanese animation studio behind the Dragon Ball anime franchise, is about to launch an ambitious video game collaboration project for its most ambitious animated movie. The upcoming CGI animated film Hypergalactic, will soon appear in popular video games like Roblox and Fortnite.

Spaceport, an industry leader in licensing and creator-driven tools, is partnering with Toei Animation for its new animated movie aimed at a global audience. Hypergalactic follows a teenage girl and her younger brother as they search for their missing parents in the not-too-distant future of Earth. Their seemingly hopeless quest leads them to awaken a forgotten protector of Earth -- a monkey-man hero who takes visual inspiration from the Monkey King from Journey to the West. Naoto Oshima, the co-creator of Sonic the Hedgehog, is developing the films characters and story with Toei Animation.

Related Dragon Ball Reveals New Tech Accessory Collection in Original...

"Hot Rod" is one of those movies that really has come into its own since its original release. The movie served as the cinematic coming out party for The Lonely Island, aka Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer. Unfortunately, it was something of a flop when Paramount Pictures released it in the summer of 2007. But audiences have since allowed it to achieve cult status, embracing its many outlandish jokes, elaborate comedic set pieces, and hidden gags. The story of one of those hidden gags is, as it turns out, infinitely better than the gag itself.

On a recent two-part episode of "The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast," the gang broke down "Hot Rod" in great detail. It's the perfect example of why "SNL" fans should be listening to this podcast. On the episode, the gang explained how on Earth a poster for an obscure, real comedy called "The Whoopee Boys...

Former Bachelorette Michelle Young has found love again with boyfriend, Jack Leius. And she’s opening up about how she knew he was the one for her.

Michelle and Jack made their public relationship debut in October 2023, nearly a year after Michelle called off her engagement with Nayte Olukoya. Since then, the couple has been going strong, moving in together earlier this year.

Michelle Young Shares How She Knew Jack Leius Was The One

So, how did Michelle and Jack meet? In a video, Jack revealed that he saw Michelle at a rodeo on one of their mutual friend’s Instagram stories and felt a massive urge to slide up.

Michelle, a former Division I basketball player and current kindergarten teacher, has big dreams for the future and wants a man by her side who is supportive and driven to make the world a better place. It seems like Jack,...

Leading Japanese animation studio Toei Animation has announced family feature Hypergalactic, describing the production as its biggest and most ambitious CGI film to date.

The story and characters are co-created by top Japanese artist Naoto Oshima, who designed the hit global franchise Sonic the Hedgehog for Sega, and Joseph Chou, whose credits include Blade Runner 2022: Black Out, Ghost in the Shell and Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.

The English-language animated family feature is directed by David N. Weiss, whose credits include Shrek 2, The Smurfs and Smurfs 2.

The movie will feature the voice talents of Adam Devine, Elsie Fisher, J.K. Simmons and Sam Richardson.

The family film follows an adventurous teenage girl (Fisher) and her baby brother in the not-so-distant future, after they liberate the forgotten protector of Earth,...

Baldur's Gate 3 is full of hidden mechanics and Easter eggs, including pop culture references to Final Fantasy Xiv and Jimmy Neutron. The game also includes references to famous works of literature, such as several works by Shakespeare and Poe. Other references come from Peter Pan, The Simpsons and Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Baldur's Gate 3 contains many references to other works of media. While some of them are certainly expected, like the recurrence of characters like Minsc and Jaheira from prior Baldur's Gate games, others truly come out of left field, subtle enough to fly directly over players' heads.

Indeed, Baldur's Gate 3 is full of hidden mechanics and Easter eggs, many of which will pass completely unnoticed if players aren't looking for them. Its pop culture references are some of the easiest to notice, since they're often playing on the most well-known facets of movies, TV shows, music, and literature. But even still,...

The Gabrielle Union-starring rom-com The Perfect Find and new seasons of deceptive baking sensation Is It Cake? and The Witcher, marking the beginning of the end of Henry Cavill’s starring run, are some of the much-anticipated titles still set to come to Netflix this month.

In The Perfect Find, Union plays a fashion editor who, after a public breakup and career implosion, starts working for her former rival Darcy Hill (Gina Torres) and catches the eye of a younger videographer (Keith Powers), who happens to be the boss’ son. As a romance blossoms, Union’s character begins to question what she really wants from the next phase of her life. The film, directed by Numa Perrier, is based on Tia Williams’ award-winning novel of the same name and also stars Janet Hubert, D.B. Woodside, Aisha Hinds, La La Anthony and others.

More deceptive desserts are on the menu...

As we creep towards summer, Netflix has a hot new list of fresh content, including the final season of “Never Have I Ever,” the sophomore season of ‘Human Resources” and the highly anticipated sixth season of “Black Mirror.”

Kicking off the start of the month on mega streamer are lots of family-friendly goodies like both “Nanny McPhee” and “Nanny McPhee Returns,” “Kicking and Screaming,” “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius” and the “Angry Birds Movie.” But the adults won’t be left out of the conversation, as more mature flicks and series like “Jarhead,” “Funny People” and “We’re the Millers” are also hitting the platform this month.

And it wouldn’t be Netflix without its originals. “Take Care of Maya,” “Extraction 2” and the Sarah Snook-led “Run Rabit Run” will land on the site in June. And even if this isn’t enough to get you watching, Netflix will be streaming its Tudum festival on Saturday,...

One of the most anticipated titles coming to Netflix in June is “Extraction 2,” a sequel to the 2020 action thriller starring Chris Hemsworth. After being presumed dead following a massive battle in Bangladesh, Tyler Rake is back and ready to embark on another dangerous mission The film streams June 16.

Watch the trailer for “Extraction 2”:

The wacky animated film “Nimona” also arrives on the world’s largest streamer next month. The movie follows a shapeshifter sidekick to the villain Lord Blackheart. After his boss gets in trouble with Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin, who is charged with keeping the peace in a futuristic fantasy kingdom, Nimona has to become a new kind of hero for a new kind of fairy tale. The film arrives June 30 on Netflix.

Check out the trailer for “Nimona”:

Premiering in June — on a date to be announced — is the sixth season of the sci-fi dystopian technology anthology series “Black Mirror.

In Jimmy Neutron, Libby Folfax's voice actor may sound familiar from other TV shows as well as some video games. Continuing from the 2001 animated feature Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius, the cartoon series The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius is a series that aired on Nickelodeon from 2002 to 2006. The story follows the titular Jimmy (voiced by Debi Derryberry), a young boy genius who gets into fun adventures with his friends and family. His class at school included a number of characters, such as Libby Folfax, the best friend of Cindy Vortex (Carolyn Lawrence), and the love interest of Sheen Estevez (Jeffery Garcia).

While she also appeared in the movie, Libby Folfax became a fan favorite on the show. After season 1 of The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius, she was even added to the title logo. Libby also changed immensely at the end of that first season, switching her hairstyle...

Currently available to stream on Netflix, The Magician's Elephant centers around a boy named Peter who is determined to reunite with his little sister. When a fortune teller simply advises him to "follow the elephant," her ominous words lead to more than he bargained for. Challenged by the king himself, Peter must complete a series of impossible tasks if he hopes to discover the truth about the family he thought he lost.

Kate Dicamillo joins forces with producer Julia Pistor and director Wendy Rogers to adapt her 2009 book into a full-length feature. Dicamillo is a two-time Newbery Award winner and is most well-known for her novel Because of Winn-Dixie. Pistor has produced other animated films such as Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, while Rogers has worked on The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian as a visual effects supervisor. The main cast includes Noah Jupe, Sian Clifford, Pixie Davies, Natasia Demetriou, Dawn French,...

Season 2 of the Emmy-winning comedy “Hacks,” the debut of Colin Firth’s true-crime drama “The Staircase” and the streaming return of “The Matrix: Resurrections” all await HBO Max subscribers in May. If you’re looking for something new to watch or wondering what’s on HBO Max this month, not to worry, we’ve got the full rundown.

There are several must-watch new TV shows on both HBO and HBO Max this month, new and returning. Acclaimed Jean Smart comedy “Hacks” returns for Season 2 on May 12. As for the new debuts, May sees the premieres for HBO Max’s “The Staircase” on May 5, starring Colin Firth as Michael Peterson in the true-crime limited series, as well as the HBO premiere of Steven Moffat’s (”Doctor Who”) series adaptation of “The Time Traveler’s Wife” on May 15.

New films this month include the streaming return of “The Matrix: Resurrections” and streaming premieres...

With movie theaters fully back up and running, HBO Max no longer has any major film releases to point to with its list of new releases for May 2022. That’s alright though as the streamer is leaning into the HBO side of its branding to offer up some fun TV releases.

The biggest HBO Max original this month is undoubtedly the return of Hacks on May 12. The first season of this comedy starred Jean Smart as a venerated Vegas comedy and Hannah Einbinder as her new millennial assistant. The first batch of episodes was excellent and even won an Emmy or two for its troubles and now season 2 will look to keep up the good vibes.

Premiering on May 15, is The Time Traveler’s Wife. This series adaptation of the 2003 novel (which in turn became a a 2009 movie) keeps up with two star-crossed lovers who can never quite make the timing work…...

Over Savio P. Clemente’s many years as a certified wellness coach, podcaster, and syndicated columnist, he has talked to hundreds of individuals at all stages in their battle with cancer. A Stage 3 cancer survivor himself, Clemente collected 35 of those interviews in his new book, “I Survived Cancer and Here Is How I Did It.”

In an excerpt from his book below — which is available to purchase in hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook editions now, Clemente speaks with voice actor Rob Paulsen about his battle with throat cancer and what got him through it.

This excerpt has been edited for style and clarity.

***

I had the pleasure of interviewing Rob Paulsen. You probably grew up with Rob. Your kids are

growing up with Rob. Name not familiar? What about Pinky from “Pinky and the Brain?” Yakko from “Animaniacs”? Mutant Turtles, who happen to be martial arts experts, named Raphael and Donatello...

The Best Animated Feature Academy Award was only introduced 20 years ago, shining a new light on the animated films of 2001. "Shrek" took home the inaugural award, wrongfully beating out "Monsters, Inc." and rightfully beating "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius." Though Pixar didn't win that first year, they have taken home the prize a whopping 11 times. Walt Disney Animation Studios proper, surprisingly, only has three wins, though "Encanto" stands a strong chance of netting the studio's fourth this year. Warner Bros., Sony, Paramount, and Aardman also each have a win, so this is a major studio award. But when Disney has distributed 75% of...

The post The Only Anime to Win the Oscar For Best Animated Feature appeared first on /Film.

Spanning a 26-year career, voice actor Dee Bradley Baker has built an ever-growing legacy in the animation and gaming industry. Joining the ranks of voice actors such as Phil Lamarr (Green Lantern) and Kevin Michael Richardson (The Joker), Baker has voiced hundreds of characters, many of them beloved.

Related: Tara Strong: Ben 10 & Her 9 Other Unbelievable Roles As A Voice Actor

He voices many additional characters in a wide range of shows and movies, including Elena Of Avalor, Ben 10, Happy Feet, Jimmy Neutron, Family Guy and The Powerpuff Girls. Baker's first breakout role was the voice of Dad in Cow & Chicken and I Am Weasel. Since then, he has worked on many Cartoon Network, Disney and Adult Swim shows.

https://youtu.be/sgv0O5MePPM Listen / download here: There's a good chance you know Rob Paulsen's voice when you hear it. Be it Raphael in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series or Donatello in the 2012 version, the iconic Warner Bros. mascot Yakko Warner from Animaniacs or the hit character Pinky from the super successful spin-off series Pinky and the Brain, Carl Wheezer from Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, or one of any of his nearly 1,300 roles, Paulsen has been honing his voice-acting craft for 40 years and continues to go strong today with no …...

The Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (Hnca) has selected voice actor Rob Paulsen as its official spokesperson for 2020.

Paulsen will serve as the face and voice of Hnca’s Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Program (Ohanca), which celebrates its 22nd year in 2020.

The cornerstone of the annual initiative is Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, scheduled for April 13-19, when dozens of free oral, head and neck cancer screenings and awareness programs take place around the world.

Rob Paulsen is known for voicing some of the most iconic cartoon characters of all-time. His voice has been featured in series such as Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. Paulsen will now use his famous voice to help raise awareness of oral, head and neck cancer, encourage those at risk to get screened for oral cancer, and promote the importance of early...

David N. Weiss, a past WGA West VP and writer of Shrek 2 and The Smurfs and Rugrats movie and TV franchises, has been chosen to receive the WGA West’s 2019 Animation Writers Caucus Animation Writing Award. The honor will be bestowed tonight at the annual Awc awards ceremony and member meeting at the guild’s Los Angeles headquarters.

Weiss’ credits on the film side also include Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, The Rugrats Movie and Rugrats in Paris: The Movie and The Smurfs and Smurfs 2. To date, the box office cume for Weiss’ combined work exceeds $2.3 billion worldwide.

Working with his writing partner J. David Stem, Weiss served as head writer on Nickelodeon’s Rugrats TV series. The duo’s other credits include Cybill, Mission Hill and The Downtowners, along with the features Daddy Day Care, Are We There Yet? and Clockstoppers.

They are writing a remake of Jimmy Stewart...

The 74th Academy Awards, which honored films from 2001, was historic in many ways. Whoopi Goldberg would host the ceremony on March 24, 2002, for her fourth time. Denzel Washington became just the second black actor to win a lead trophy. It was for his villainous cop in “Training Day” — 8 years after Sidney Poitier became the first for his handyman in 1963’s “Lilies of the Field.” Halle Berry also broke down a barrier by becoming the first-ever black actress to win an Oscar as a lead, portraying a single mother in “Monster’s Ball.”

It was also the debut of the Best Animated Feature category. As Goldberg explained on air, “In recognition to their steadily growing importance to the motion picture arts, the academy has added a category honoring animated feature films. Bambi, who is now in an assisted living facility in Palm Springs, has been lobbying for this for years. I proudly...

A new trailer for the Uglydolls movie has arrived. In an age where Hollywood is trying anything and everything to find the next big franchise, it's become increasingly popular to turn to the world of hot selling toys in order to craft a potential movie series. In this case, STXFilms has turned to the Uglydoll line of plush toys and brought them to life on the big screen in a music-filled, colorful, sprawling adventure. Will that bet pay off?

The trailer sets up an almost depressing premise that sees imperfect toys thrown out into a faraway land. Sort of like the Island of Misfit Toys. It then turns into an adventure with a group of these castaways looking for the "big world" in hopes of finding a kid that would like to play with them. The footage then highlights the musical nature of the movie, along with its human characters...

Nickelodeon has hired Oscar-nominated “Boss Baby” producer Ramsey Naito as executive vice president of Animation Production and Development, in charge of the network’s animation content across all formats and platforms — including digital, TV and film — Nickelodeon president Brian Robbins announced Tuesday.

Naito will be based in Nickelodeon’s Burbank, California, studio and report directly to Robbins. This marks Robbins’ second hire since he took over Nick last month. Last week, he named Shauna Phelan head of Nick’s live-action scripted content.

Chris Viscardi, Nickelodeon’s former senior vice president of Animation and Development who was previously leading the department, will now be moving into a producer role for the children’s network. He will oversee the creation of feature-length animated content for both Nickelodeon and third-party digital and linear platforms.

Also Read: Nickelodeon Hires Awesomeness Exec Shauna Phelan to Lead Live-Action Division

Naito will be responsible for managing Nickelodeon...

It took 14 years after the smash success of “The Incredibles” for the sequel to appear but the wait was worth it. This continuation of the story was well-received by both critics (93 at Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences ($1.1 billion and counting). Can it parlay this success into an Oscar for Best Animated Feature?

The original film did just that, winning a tight race against “Shrek 2,” the sequel to the film that had won this award in its inaugural year (2001), and the box office smash “Shark Tale.” The latter was a surprise nominee, given that it merited a mere 35 score at Rotten Tomatoes. But it boasted an all-star voice cast including Oscar winners Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie, Renee Zellweger and Martin Scorsese. And it’s jukebox musical style made it one of the catchiest flicks of the year.

“Shrek 2” hit theaters just two years after the original film won the...

Paramount Pictures has named “The Boss Baby” producer Ramsey Naito to the post of executive vice president at Paramount Animation.

Naito received an Oscar nomination for DreamWorks Animation’s “The Boss Baby” along with Tom McGrath. She will report to Paramount Animation’s president, Mireille Soria. Paramount made the announcement Thursday.

“I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Ramsey for a number of years,” Soria said. “She is a consummate professional with incredible creative instincts and relationships. I am so excited for her to bring her skills and energy to our growing team.”

Naito will oversee production on the next SpongeBob SquarePants movie. She will actively seek new projects for development and animation talent to work with the division. Naito will work with Soria to build cross-divisional opportunities with Nickelodeon and parent company Viacom’s other brands.

In addition to the third installment of “SpongeBob SquarePants,” Paramount...

Ramsey Naito, who most recently produced DreamWorks Animation’s Oscar-nominated feature The Boss Baby, has joined Paramount Animation as Executive VP. She will report to Paramount Animation President Mireille Soria.

Paramount Animation also has added Emily Nordwind as VP Production and Development, Katherine MacDonald as VP Production and Marketing and Maya Kambe as a creative executive.

In her new job, Naito will not only oversee production on the next SpongeBob SquarePants movie but she will actively seek out new projects for development and animation talent to work with the division. In addition to the third installment of SpongeBob SquarePants, Paramount Animation’s upcoming slate also includes Wonder Park (newly retitled from Amusement Park), which is set to bow on March 15, 2019.

Naito also will work with Soria to also build cross-divisional opportunities with Nickelodeon and parent company Viacom’s other brands.

“I have had the privilege of knowing and working with...

Chicago – In one of the most natural pieces of voice casting in cartoon history, Alec Baldwin portrays the title character in Dreamworks Animation’s “The Boss Baby.” The director is animation veteran Tom McGrath (“Madagascar”), and the producer is Ramsey Ann Naito, and they were both in Chicago to promote the film.

“The Boss Baby” is fast, loose, funny and full of heart. Based on a children’s book by Marla Frazee, the animated version combines baby brother jealousy with Mad Men-era business self help, in a crazy visual landscape. Alec Baldwin is at his “30 Rock” best as the Boss Baby, delivering lines like the parody of his famous movie quote, “cookies are for closers.” There are many layers in the film, but mostly it is a hilarious metaphor on how families adjust when new siblings are added to the mix.

Alec Baldwin is the Voice of ‘The Boss Baby,...

There’s some good news and some bad news when it comes to the October departures from Netflix. We’ll start with the bad news first. Back to the Future (1-3), The Warriors, and The Exorcist are all getting yanked on October 1. The good news is almost everything else is staying. Not to dismiss the cinematic accomplishments of Honey 2 or Congo, but the reality is these and their ilk probably won’t be missed by many. Check out the full list below. And when you’re done, click here to see what's coming. That’s what really matters anyway. October 1 10.0 Earthquake Back to the Future Back to the Future Part II Back to the Future Part III Beverly Hills Cop II Congo Deep Impact Erin Brockovich The Exorcist Heroes: Season 1­-4 Honey Honey 2 Insomnia Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius Mr. Deeds My Girl Nick of Time The Phantom...

Writer/director Mike Gasaway, the Emmy-nominated director of the acclaimed cartoon shows Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and Back at the Barnyard, has a completely different project in the works. Instead of tackling another kid-friendly project, Gasaway decided to delve deep into… Continue Reading →

The post Jimmy Neutron Director Mike Gasaway Tackles Supernatural Horror in Help Me First appeared first on Dread Central.

Steve Oedekerk's 2002 dubbed comedy Kung Pow: Enter the Fist is one of those comedies I'll always have to regret liking when I was around nine-or-ten years old. It's a sophomoric, slappy-happy rip-off of Woody Allen's What's Up, Tiger Lily written with all the sophistication and charm of two middle-school boys riffing on a copy of an old 1970s martial arts feature. It probably had to do with my love of kung fu -- something I still adore today -- and being of the right age. This is all to say, it's one of those black marks in my film-loving life from which I constantly atone for. It didn't make a dent in the box office, but I suppose it had a modern following on home video who clamored up its irreverence in a pre-YouTube era as I did then. Does that warrant the need to have a sequel...

Looking for what's new on Netflix streaming for October 2014? You've come to the right place.

We've rounded up the best TV shows and movies arriving soon. So take some time to peruse this list, and maybe block off a weekend or two so you can binge-watch Season 5 of "The Vampire Diaries" or something.

Here's a much larger rundown of what subscribers can expect in September, courtesy of Netflix. All title dates are subject to change.

Available October 1

"Annie" (1982)

Based on the Depression-era comic strip "Little Orphan Annie," this adaptation of the smash Broadway musical follows America's favorite urchin (Aileen Quinn) as she captures Daddy Warbucks' (Albert Finney) heart with her unquenchable optimism. In the meantime, Annie must try to dodge the treacherous head of the orphanage (Carol Burnett). Directed by John Huston, Annie features the hit song "Tomorrow."

"Annie: A Royal Adventure" (1995)

Annie, the charming orphan with a head full of red curls,...

Four years after it was first announced in February 2010, Walt Disney Pictures is moving forward with Enchanted 2, bringing on The Smurfs and The Smurfs 2 writers J. David Stem and David N. Weiss to pen the script.

Our first report revealed that Jessie Nelson (Because I Said So) was writing the sequel, but it isn't known if J. David Stem and David N. Weiss are starting over from scratch, or working from the first draft. No story details have been released.

Anne Fletcher (The Proposal, The Guilt Trip) is directing, with Barry Josephson and Barry Sonnenfeld returning to produce.

It isn't clear yet if original Enchanted stars Amy Adams and James Marsden will reprise their roles as Giselle and Prince Edward. The original story centered on Giselle, a fairy tale princess who is sent to the real world by an evil queen, where she meets and falls for a...

It was in no way surprising, given the success of the first onscreen twirl for Amy Adams’ Disney-princess-meets-reality tale Enchanted, that the Mouse House would look to magic up a sequel. What’s slightly more shocking is how long it is taking the company to figure it out. The latest development? Writers J. David Stem and David N. Weiss have been hired to take a crack.The pair, who worked on the likes of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Shrek 2, and, um, both Smurfs movies to date, are aboard to work out the next step in the story. Enchanted, as you’ll recall, found Adams’ Giselle as an animated princess exiled to our world by an evil sorceress played by Susan Sarandon. Landing in New York, she confronted the harsh reality of a land seemingly without true love or happy ever afters by singing a lot and generally trying to...

The Academy Award for Best Animated Feature was penciled into the program starting with the 74th installment covering 2001′s releases, and the award went to Shrek. There were only two other nominees that year, Monsters, Inc. and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, and yeah, one of those things is not like the others. Most folks would be forgiven for thinking only U.S. productions are eligible, but that’s not the case. Of course, in the twelve years since its inception only seven foreign language films have been nominated with only one going on to win the award (Japan’s Spirited Away). This isn’t exactly surprising, and while a lack of Academy awareness when it comes to foreign animation is the biggest culprit, the power of a homegrown juggernaut can’t be discounted. Pixar has won the award in seven of the last ten years culminating in last year’s win for Brave, and...

Here Lies... the Best Animated Feature nomination for Monsters, Inc. (2001) sent to an early grave by a big green ogre. Hi, Deborah from Basket of Kisses here. The Great Oscar Animation War of 2001/2002 was fought between innocence and jadedness, between sincerity and irony, between modernism and post-modernism, or, to put it plainly, between Monsters, Inc. and Shrek. (To be fair, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, was also in the race, but I don't know anyone who considered it a contender.) The winner, Shrek, announced a tragedy of 21st century humor, in which reference and winking has won out over wit and warmth. What? Do I sound bitter?

The film's Oscar-winning theme song would have you believe that the film is about friendship -- and Sully (John Goodman), Mike (Billy Crystal), and Boo—are lovely -- but at heart, Monsters, Inc. is about a childhood so unspoiled that there are still monsters in the bedroom closet.

Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant, two of the (lesser talented) guys behind "The State" and "Reno! 9/11" before selling their souls in exchange for unearned cash (and lots of it) are releasing a book today called Writing Movies for Fun and Profit: How We Made a Billion Dollars at the Box Office and You Can, Too! It's a semi-serious self-help book for screenwriters, not about how to make a good film, but about how to make a commercially successful one. In other words, how to cheat the system.

Clearly, Lennon and Garant have a lot of experience in making incredibly shitty but very popular films that appeal to moviegoers barely smart enough to count out their ticket money. Garant and Lennon are so proud of this ability to write films for dumbshits that they want share screenwriting advice to all those out there, not who want to make good films,...

We won't see fireworks in town this July 4, because it's too darn hot and too damn dry. No rain, no fireworks, no respite. I wonder if ticket sales in Austin theaters are up this year simply because the A/C in movie theaters is so arctic. Have you been watching more movies in theaters than usual this summer?

If new movies aren't appealing to you, Austin has the usual wealth of special screenings, indoors and out. I'm tempted to see Ghostbusters at Blue Starlite tonight or Saturday; they're offering s'mores kits with "real Stay-Puft marshmallows" to enjoy with the film. Alamo Ritz brings back the documentary Queen of the Sun: What are the Bees Trying to Tell Us? on Wednesday night. Austin Film Festival's Texas Family Film Series screens Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius tomorrow afternoon at the Texas Spirit Theater, and writer/director John Davis will hold a Q&A afterward ... and admission is free.

Sony Pictures will air a new television spot during Fox’s “American Idol” show. Here is the official synopsis: When the evil wizard Gargamel chases the tiny blue Smurfs out of their village, they tumble from their magical world and into ours -- in fact, smack dab in the middle of Central Park. Just three apples high and stuck in the Big Apple, the Smurfs must find a way to get back to their village before Gargamel tracks them down. The live action and animation hybrid film is directed by Raja Gosnell (“Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” “Scooby-Doo”). “The Smurfs” stars Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Sofia Vergara and Hank Azaria. The Smurfs voice cast includes Jonathan Winters, Katy Perry, Alan Cumming, George Lopez, Paul Reubens, Kenan Thompson, Jeff Foxworthy, Anton Yelchin, Fred Armisen and Wolfgang Puck. The screenplay is written by J. David Stem (“Daddy Day Camp,” “Shrek 2”) and David N. Weiss...

Last year Universal Resorts in Orlando, Fl (sister company of Universal Studios) invested heavily in recreating Hogwarts and other familiar scenes from the multi-billion dollar Harry Potter franchise for their attraction The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Keeping in the spirit of of turning their highly popular movies into theme park attractions, Universal Resorts recently announced they would build a new attraction based of last summers’ highly popular and successful animated film Despicable Me.

The ride will open in the Summer of 2012 and will stand in the place formerly occupied by the Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius attraction.

Here is the official press release regarding the upcoming Despicable Me attraction:

Gru, one of the world’s greatest super-villains, is bringing his high-tech empire – and ...

Click to continue reading Universal Orlando Resort Announces ‘Despicable Me’ Attraction...

Take a Home Alone exposition and put it unceremoniously into the plot of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and you’ve got Mars Needs Moms. The main difference is that in Mars Needs Moms, there are some deep-seated racial undertones that play out in the movie.

Sometimes when you hear a film name, you hope against hope that the actual film will have a deeper meaning than its title. However, that’s not the case in Mars Needs Moms. What you expect is exactly what you get. The film stars Seth Green (Entourage, Family Guy) as Milo, the boy who wishes he didn’t have a mom. Just like Home Alone, he wakes up to find his mom, voiced by Joan Cusack (Shameless), missing. In Home Alone the mom went on vacation without Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), while in this animated feature Martians kidnap the mother. Dan Fogler (Take Me Home Tonight...

With the 80s providing Hollywood with a rich source of inspiration, what 90s shows could Tinseltown reboot next? Here's our list of potential candidates...

Here's a theory. In modern Hollywood, there's a preponderance for refitting old brands. This much is obvious from the vast success of Christopher Nolan's Batman films and the Daniel Craig-abetted jumpstart to the James Bond series.

More pressingly, properties from the 1980s have proven particularly lucrative, for better or worse, especially in the last decade. We've seen reboots or sequels to the likes of Transformers, Indiana Jones and numerous horror franchises that have thankfully avoided deploying Shia Labeouf.

It's continuing into the 2010s with The A-Team and The Smurfs. Even an undercurrent of nostalgia for the 1980s has become a commodity, if the recent Hot Tub Time Machine is anything to go by.

This is where my theory comes in. As the 2010s wear on,...

Oh no. Deadline Hollywood is reporting that Taylor Lautner has been cast as Stretch Armstrong in the Brian Grazer-produced adaptation of the Hasbro toy in development at Universal. When it was first reported that this movie was even being made, that was when we started writing about how Hollywood had finally crossed the line with all of these damn toy adaptations. I mean, I thought a Stretch Armstrong movie was a bad idea to begin with, but now with Lautner starring in? I have zero excitement for this project and will be lamenting its eventual release in March 2012. Oh and, as you probably guessed, it's coming in 3D as well. This was first announced in February last year. Ron Howard's partner Brian Grazer is producing (which is where the rumors about Ron Howard directing came from) and screenwriter Steve Oedekerk (The Nutty Professor, Patch Adams, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius,...

Zachary Quinto may have scared a few "Star Trek" fans when he said he would be stepping away from the franchise for a couple of years. He ran some damage control from his Twitter account today, though, to assure everyone that he would be sticking with his Spock role for the films, just not on anything related to public appearances or side projects.

Meanwhile, in trending topic new, the death of J.D. Salinger hit home for a lot of Twitter-Wood posters today, who contributed memories and first encounters with his masterpiece "Catcher in the Rye." That's the heart of the report today, but read on past the jump, and you'll also find Edgar Wright contemplating a release date for "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" and Michael Ian Black's suggestion for a Michael Cera memoir in Twitter-Wood for January 28, 2010.

Twitter Pic of the Day:

@DanWarp Pic! The awesome Kenan Thompson...

There’s been a bunch of hubbub about 2009 turning out to be a disappointing year in cinema. And, when comparing films released this year to other years within the decade, this sentiment is just about right. Many an end-of-the-year release that was supposed to be the saving grace to a lackluster twelve months either turned out to be mightily disappointing (Invictus, Amelia) or contained minor problems that prevented them from quite living up to their massive expectations or full potential (The Lovely Bones, The Road, Precious). But what’s been overlooked is the fact that it’s been largely live-action features that have met the brunt of disappointed reactions, while animated films meanwhile have shined in 2009 in a way they haven’t in any other year. Last month Variety released a list of twenty films eligible for the five slots in the Best Animated Feature category at this year's Academy Awards. First...

I personally have been smurfing The Smurfs feature-film adaptation, officially titled The Smurfs 3-D, since the announcement by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation back in January of 2008. The first behind-the-scenes rendered images of the CGI Smurfs came out this past December.

The feature-film Smurfs is being smurfed by Raja Gosnell (Scooby Doo, Slither) and the script was smurfed by David Stern and David Weiss (Shrek 2, Shrek 3). Today we have a smurfy look at the first teaser poster for The Smurfs 3-D, then below that some behind the smurf stills with the unfinished wire animation. Take a smurf for yourself:

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Smurf to Enlarge

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The Smurfs, or Les Schtroumpfs as they were called in the Netherlands, have been around since the fantastical mind of Belgian cartoonist Pierre Culliford (or Peyo as he was known) originally thought them up in 1958. In 1981, Hanna & Barbera started producing The Smurfs animated TV series for...

Raja Gosnell has signed to direct the live-action/animated hybrid big-screen version of "The Smurfs" for Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation.

Jordan Kerner ("Charlotte's Web") is producing the movie. J. David Stem and David Weiss ("Shrek 2," "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius") spent the past year writing the script. Audrey Wells ("George of the Jungle") is on board to do a polish.

Gosnell is the editor-turned-director best known for helming "Scooby-Doo" and "Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed" in addition to last year's "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," all of which combined live actors and settings with photo-realistic animated talking animals.

Turning his attention to the small blue characters created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo was the next step.

"With Raja coming aboard, we now have a brilliant director who has proved time and again that he has a deft touch in blending the worlds of physical comedy and honest emotion with both live-action and photo-real animated characters,...

First Hasbro turned Transformers into a movie. (Obligatory Mark Ryan link and reference to The Pilgrim here.) Then Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (June 26, 2009) and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (August 7, 2009). And then they put Monopoly, Candyland, and Ouija into production with Universal. And now, announced just in time for Toy Fair International, writer Steve Oedekerk (Bruce Almighty, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius) has been tapped to write Universal's movie adaptation of Stretch Armstrong, a comedy based on Hasbro's stretchy strong guy toy, according to Variety.

Stretch Armstrong was first introduced by Kenner in the late 1970s, which eventually featured a line of stretchy characters, including Stretch Monster, Wretch Armstrong, and Fetch Armstrong. Stretch Armstrong was later re-introduced after Hasbro acquired Kenner (which was part of Tonka) in 1991. Disney had acquired the movie rights to Stretch Armstrong and worked at developing a movie first with Danny DeVito and then Jackie Chan.

It was no race to the top spot of the boxoffice this past weekend, as Sony Pictures' Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby won the boxoffice derby in a landslide victory. The NASCAR satire starring Will Ferrell earned a remarkable $47 million, lifting the weekend's boxoffice a stunning 18% from the same period last year. Paramount Pictures' animated flick Barnyard was also a solid performer, earning $15.8 million for the three-day frame. Lionsgate was successful in drawing in the horror fans for its screamfest The Descent, with an $8.9 million opener, though Miramax had a tough time luring in adults for its drama The Night Listener, earning only $3.5 million at the boxoffice. Miami Vice, the No. 1 film at the boxoffice last weekend, had a tough time bringing in the crowds for its second session. The Michael Mann-directed film was off a steep 60% for its sophomore session, earning $10 million for a two-week cume of $46 million. Warner Bros. Pictures didn't have it any easier at the boxoffice for its second session of The Ant Bully. The animated film from Jimmy Neutron creator-director John A. Davis fell 54% to earn a paltry $3 million. The film, which during the week had some strong numbers, has earned $18 million after 10 days of release.