THE SMURFS begins production

From ComingSoon.net:

"Principal photography began Friday, March 26, in New York on Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Animation's hybrid live-action and animated family comedy, The Smurfs, it was announced today by Bob Osher, president of Sony Pictures Digital Productions, Hannah Minghella, president of Sony Pictures Animation and Doug Belgrad, president of Columbia Pictures.

Audiences everywhere are in for a Smurfy good time as the Smurfs make their first 3D trip to the big screen. 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 film is set for release August 3, 2011.

Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Sofia Vergara, and Hank Azaria star on camera opposite an all-star voice cast. Anton Yelchin [(Star Trek, Terminator Salvation)] will play Clumsy Smurf; comedy legend Jonathan Winters, who voiced roles in the 'Smurfs' television series, will voice Papa Smurf; Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Katy Perry will play Smurfette; Alan Cumming will play Gutsy Smurf; 'SNL's' Fred Armisen will voice Brainy Smurf; and George Lopez will play Grouchy Smurf.

In the live-action roles, Azaria will play the Smurfs' nemesis, the evil wizard Gargamel. Harris and Mays star as an expectant couple whose lives are turned upside down when the Smurfs cross over from their magical village to New York City. Vergara plays Odile, Harris's boss, a cosmetics executive.

The film is directed by Raja Gosnell. The screenplay is by J. David Stem & David N. Weiss and Jay Scherick & David Ronn, based on the characters and works of Peyo. The producer is Jordan Kerner and Ezra Swerdlow, Ben Haber, and Paul Neesan are the executive producers.

Commenting on the announcement, Minghella said, 'We're thrilled with the way our cast has come together. Raja and Jordan and the entire team working on The Smurfs have developed a film with tremendous heart and great comedy and now we have a dream cast to bring the movie to life.'

Adds producer Jordan Kerner, 'What a wonderful journey this has been. The time is right for an adventure that will thrill fans and introduce the blue heroes to a new generation, and the technology is here to allow the three-apple-high Smurfs to appear in all their glory on the big screen and in 3D. Columbia Pictures has been magnificent at every turn in their commitment to get The Smurfs to the screen. Our partners at Lafig, including Peyo's daughter Veronique Culliford, have been with us in the creation of the story and characters every step of the way. It's a real thrill to begin shooting and working with our compatriots at Sony Pictures Animation. Just wait – the blue invasion is coming!'

Phil Meheux (Edge of Darkness) is the director of photography and the production designer is Bill Boes (Beverly Hills Chihuahua). Sabrina Plisco (Beverly Hills Chihuahua) is the film's editor, Maricel Pagulayan (Avatar) is the VFX Producer and Richard R. Hoover (Superman Returns) is the visual effects supervisor, with Sony Pictures Imageworks creating imagery and animation for the magical world of the Smurfs."

Sounds good so far.

Meet THE SMURFS

From ComingSoon.net:

"Jonathan Winters, George Lopez, Katy Perry and Alan Cumming are joining Neil Patrick Harris in Sony's live-action/animated The Smurfs.

The 84-year-old Winters, who voiced multiple characters on the long-running Hanna-Barbera cartoon version of "Smurfs," will play Papa Smurf. [Pop rock star] Perry is in talks to portray Smurfette, [Son of the Mask's] Alan Cumming is taking on Gutsy Smurf and [comedian/talk-show host] George Lopez is onboard as Grouchy Smurf.

Harris will play the lead live-action character.

Raja Gosnell is directing the Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Animation film from a screenplay by David N. Weiss & J. David Stem and Jay Sherick & David Ronn."

Wow. I didn't know Jonathan Winters was still alive. I saw his guest appearance on "The New Scooby-Doo Movies" yesterday of him and Maude Frickert. I could most definitely see him be the voice of Papa Smurf.

I can't see George Lopez be Grouchy. Not cause of the voice but I just can't plain see Lopez himself be grouchy.

KATY PERRY. PERFECT CASTING. AS SMURFETTE. HOT HOT HOT!!!

Not a huge fan of Neil Patrick Harris

or Alan Cumming

but they're funny I suppose. Now, if only they could get Danny Goldman to come back to play Brainy Smurf. Maybe Matthew McConaughey as Farmer Smurf.

UPDATE:

From ComingSoon.net:

"Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Hank Azaria ('The Simpsons') will voice evil sorcerer Gargamel in Sony's The Smurfs.


The magazine also says that Jayma Mays ('Glee') will play the pregnant wife to Neil Patrick Harris' character. The film centers on the happy expectant couple's lives being turned upside-down upon meeting these blue creatures. The movie will take place in New York City's Central Park and is set to begin production next month."

So wait, Gargamel is animated? Neil Patrick Harris has a wife?

UPDATE 2:

From ComingSoon.net:

"Neil Patrick Harris confirmed on Twitter that Gargamel won't be animated, the character will be live action. 'Hank Azaria will be PLAYING Gargamel for the Smurfs film, not just providing a voice. He'll be live action. Perfect casting, can't wait!'"

SPEEDY George?

From ComingSoon.net:

"New Line/Warner Bros. is developing a big screen version of Speedy Gonzales, to be voiced by George Lopez.

Garfield writers Alec Sokolow and Joel Cohen will adapt the classic animated Looney Tunes character into a live-action/CG hybrid feature. The movie will reportedly take place in present day.

Lopez, Anne Lopez and Lynette Ramirez are producing for George Lopez Presents, along with Ocean's Eleven producer Jerry Weintraub, Tracy Ryerson and Jill Arthur.

Known as 'The Fastest Mouse in all Mexico', there have been 46 cartoons made either starring or featuring the character.

'Speedy's going to be a misunderstood boy who comes from a family that works in a very meticulous setting, and he's a little too fast for what they do,' said Anne Lopez. 'He makes a mess of that. So he has to go out in the world to find what he's good at.'

That path becomes clearer once Speedy befriends a gun-shy race-car driver."

I wasn't expecting a movie on this character but George Lopez fits perfectly (if he can imitate Mel Blanc).