It appears that this is the week for announcements about musicals we never wanted/expected, because following the news that the sequel to Joker was set to be a song and dance number starring Lady Gaga, at the other end of the scale it has been revealed that Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation are teaming up to create a Smurfs musical.
The Hollywood Reporter have revealed that the Oscar-nominated director of Puss In Boots and Shrek The Third, Chris Miller, will helm the feature, and that it is pencilled in for a December 20th, 2024 theatrical release.
Before you start shouting “What the Smurfing heck is this all about?” or “What a load of Smurf” at the prospect of singing Smurfs, it’s worth noting that Miller will be directing from a screenplay written by Pam Brady, who has worked with Trey Parker and Matt Stone on South Park, and wrote Team America: World Police alongside the duo. They are credentials that are smurfing impressive.
Created by Belgian comic book artist Peyo back in 1958, The Smurfs franchise expanded into television, feature films, video games, and theme park attractions. A hugely popular cartoon adaptation was produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and ran between 1981 and 1989, with Nickelodeon releasing a CG animated reboot as recently as last year.
Let us know whether you give a Smurf about a musical feature film by heading to our social channels @FlickeringMyth….
