'Frankenweenie' 3-D 2011

[ALIASd]

John August tackling two film projects

Scribe to pen films for Tim Burton, Sam Mendes

By Borys Kit
The Hollywood Reporter
Jan 22, 2009, 01:00 AM ET

John August, who just two weeks ago lamented on his screenwriting blog that his long-gestating "Shazam!" project at Warners hit a roadblock, suddenly has plenty of irons in the fire.

August has booked a pair of gigs that will see him working with top-flight directors: He's set to write "Frankenweenie" for Tim Burton and Disney after first tackling the comic book adaptation "Preacher" for Sam Mendes and Columbia.

"Frankenweenie" is based on a comedic horror short that Burton made in 1984 while a film school student. The story tells of a man who brings his dog back to life after it is killed by a car.

While the original "Frankenweenie" was a live-action project, the new one will be made using stop-motion animation and be in 3-D. Like the original, the feature version is to be shot in black & white. Burton is producing, and many of the animation artists and crew from the director's "Corpse Bride" will be involved, with the studio aiming for a 2011 release.

Allison Abbate will produce with Burton as she did on "Corpse Bride." Don Hahn will exec produce.

"Frankenweenie" will mark UTA-repped August's fifth collaboration with Burton. The two worked on "Big Fish," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Corpse Bride" and have "Dark Shadows," set up at Warners with Johnny Depp attached to star, in the wings.

John August tackling two film projects

[sir clinksalot]

OMG, I LOVE Frankenweenie. I'm so stoked for this. And Dark Shadows, I don't remember hearing Burton was doing that. Schweet!!!

Now Stephen King needs to talk Burton into taking 7 films of the Dark Tower series and making a movie out of them.