Paramount Pictures announces Smurf movie!
The Belgian cartoonist Peyo introduced Smurfs to the world in a series of comic strips, making their first appearance in the Belgian comics magazine Le Journal de Spirou on October 23, 1958. Kids and Adults in the US may perhaps know them best through the animated television series from Hanna-Barbera Productions, The Smurfs.
With the commercial success of The Smurf empire came the merchandising empire of Smurf miniatures, models, games, and toys. Entire collecting clubs devote themselves to collecting PVC Smurfs Figurines.
The 50th Smurf anniversary will be celebrated with series of new comic adventures, statuettes, an exhibition at Brussels’ cartoon museum, a set of commemorative stamps and, in a reflection of changing times, more females in their mushroom cottage village.
Hendrik Coysman, head of Smurf rights holder IMPS told a news conference on Monday: “There have been dramatic changes in socio-cultural values in the past 20 to 25 years. One of these is girl empowerment. So, there will be a greater female presence in the Smurf village and this will, of course, be a basis for new stories and this will probably turn upside down certain traditional situations within the village.”
The movie will be 3-D computer animated. Personally, I am not sure if 3-D CG is the right treatment for the Smurfs…
Coysman also talked about the possibility of 26 new half-hour TV episodes, adding to those 270+ from the 1980’s.
Every Hollywood kids movie gets a video game these days – so keep your fingers crossed for a (half-way) decent Smurf video game!