Smurfs Headed for Bigscreens

• Jun 10, 2008 04:32 PM ET
• by movienews

Smurfing news just in - your favorite Saturday morning cartoon from the '80s is making its way to the big screen. According to Variety, Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation are creating a live-action/animated Smurf film. In negotiations to write the screenplay are none other than David Stem and David Weiss, who also penned the second and third installments in the Shrek franchise. Sony obtained film rights to the blue-colored characters from Lafig Belgium via Jordan Kerner ( Charlotte's Web), who is producing.

Though most of us remember the cartoon as the long running Hanna-Barbera series, the tiny blue residents of Smurf Village were a part of a franchise that encompassed the world for decades (who wasn't obsessed with Smurfs on Ice?). "The Smurfs are one of the best-known franchises, and among the most beloved collection of characters in the world," Columbia co-president Doug Belgrad said. "We're very excited to introduce a new generation to Papa Smurf, Smurfette and the other smurftastic Smurfs in all of their 'three-apple-tall' glory."

Now the only question is, which Smurfs are you hoping they resurrect in this "new generation" of white trouser-sporting characters? Handy? Brainy? We'll keep smurfing the Internet for cast details! - Gina DiNunno