Well we'll be
Smurfed! It's the Smurfs Movie!
Estimated release date - November 2008
A Smurf Movie
has been rumoured for so long now that we all thought it was just
a dream that was never likely to happen. But hold your horses, or
your smurfs for that matter, it seems that dreams really do come true,
even smurf ones!
On Monday 18 July
2005, a Daily Variety report by Dave McNary, states that Paramount
have acquired the film rights to our favourite cartoon characters.
They are reported to be developing a 3-D CGI (computer
generated imagery) feature with producer Jordan Kerner and Nickelodeon
Movies.
Now, for the really
exciting news, they are actually planning three movies, yes, a trilogy!
In 2008 it is the 50th anniversary of the Smurfs and this is when
they plan to release the first film. German sources had told us a
few months ago that we would see a smurf "big bang" around
the time of the anniversary so it looks like they could be right!
Here's hoping we will get more smurf merchandise, new smurf pvc figurines,
more super smurfs and a comeback for the wonderful smurf buildings
which were discontinued in 2004.
The storyline
for the new smurfs movie is very much under wraps although the Daily
Variety do mention Herb Ratner as being lined up to write the script.
Update
at July 2007
After the summer
2007 success of the Transformers Movie, Paramount have earmarked November
2008 for the release of the first full-length animated Smurfs movie!
Of course, not
everyone is happy about the prospect of a Smurf Movie, and some people
are utterly horrified that there might be three! We have always said
that you either love 'em or you hate 'em.
The Smurfs
and the Magic Flute - 1983
And what about
the original Smurfs Movie? Because of course the new CGI version will
not be the first time we have seen the Smurfs on the big screen. In
1983 "The Smurfs and the Magic Flute" arrived at cinemas
across the world, this was the first full-length Smurf motion picture.
It featured Handy, Hefty, Brainy, Lazy, Papa Smurf, Jokey, Greedy
and many more of your favourite smurfs, although we did not meet Smurfette
in this particular film. You can travel to the Smurf Village either
by having a Smurf guide or you can seek out the Wizard Homnibus and
travel by hypnokinesis. Also, you meet Johan and Pee Wee (sometimes
referred to as John and William in video releases of this movie),
the wise King, Oilycreep and Earl Flatbroke. We don't meet Gargamel
or Azrael in this movie, Oilycreep and Earl Flatbroke are the token
villains. Peyo was captivated by the history of the Middle Ages and
there is a medieval atmosphere encircling many of his stories including
The Smurfs and the Magic Flute.
We sell the original
movie programme for the Smurfs and the Magic Flute in our smurf
shop book section. This original smurf memorabilia from
1983 has colour pages with screen shots from the movie, and information
about the Smurfs and Peyo their creator, as well as fun colouring
pages, activities and puzzles for children. You can even make a Smurfcake
with Smurfblue frosting! All in all, 18 pages of smurfy fun!
And don't forget
to visit the Smurfs Shop
at Kitty's Cavern before you go!
