Universal Pictures, the studio slated to bring us live-action renditions of Monopoly, Candy Land and Battleship, just settled a deal to bring back yet another childhood favorite. This time, Universal has given up on the board-game theme in favor of kid-lit. In all fairness, the phrase "kid-lit" might be a bit misleading, as the book series the film will be based on, Where's Waldo?, isn't big on words.
The series first began in the U.K. in 1987 under the name Where's Wally?, and has since sold 50 million copies worldwide. A movie deal has been in the works for a while, with Warner Bros., Universal and a few other studios trying to outbid each other for the rights. It took nearly seven figures to seal the deal, but Universal won. Chris Meledandri, who has produced family fare such as the two Ice Age films and Horton Hears a Who!, will produce the Waldo flick.
But other than a studio and producer, not much has been settled. There isn't even any official word on a plot yet. As anyone who has spent countless hours poring over those painstakingly detailed drawings knows, Waldo doesn't do a whole lot other than aggravate readers with his taunting grin, so Universal can really take the story anywhere they choose. There have been rumors of time travel, but none have been confirmed yet.
http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/06/waldo.html
The series first began in the U.K. in 1987 under the name Where's Wally?, and has since sold 50 million copies worldwide. A movie deal has been in the works for a while, with Warner Bros., Universal and a few other studios trying to outbid each other for the rights. It took nearly seven figures to seal the deal, but Universal won. Chris Meledandri, who has produced family fare such as the two Ice Age films and Horton Hears a Who!, will produce the Waldo flick.
But other than a studio and producer, not much has been settled. There isn't even any official word on a plot yet. As anyone who has spent countless hours poring over those painstakingly detailed drawings knows, Waldo doesn't do a whole lot other than aggravate readers with his taunting grin, so Universal can really take the story anywhere they choose. There have been rumors of time travel, but none have been confirmed yet.
http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/06/waldo.html
