Studio:
Dreamworks SKG.
Production Company:
Unknown.
Project Phase: Development Hell.
Who's In It:
No one confirmed as yet.
Who's Making It:
Katsuhiro Otomo (Director); Ed Khmara (Screenwriter); based on the comic book created by Joe Quesada and
published by Event Comics.
Premise: A firefighter gains the ability to bond his body with a powerful creature from the future known as Ash.
Release Date: 2001?
Comments: None.
Rumors: Unknown.
Scoop Feedback:
[Page draft submitted by 'Widgett'.]
July 1, 1998... Official news about this project remains hard to aquire. This project is set to be the fourth animated film coming out of the Dreamworks shop. Because film numero uno, Prince of Egypt, is coming out this year, we'd estimate show number four-o hitting theaters in 2001 at the earliest, possibly even 2002. Originally some sources were saying the picture could come out as early as next year -- a trifle optimistic, we felt. Despite this seemingly large lead time, a first draft of the script has reportedly been turned in, although other sources disagree as to how much work has been done so far. Also, Rand Ravich has been mentioned as a screenwriter, though whether he is scheduled to rewrite Khmara's draft or is doing everything from scratch remains to be seen. Quesada himself has mentioned the picture has an $80 million budget. [Originally appeared in Comics2Film, ZENtertainment, WFC News, Mania; reported by 'Widgett'.]
While attending the Wizard party held last summer at the San Diego Comic Convention, we spoke to Quesada about the project. Although the project was still nebulous, Quesada was happy with the development of the picture so far and had high hopes for the finished project. Back in January we received our first scoop attaching legendary anime director Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira) to this project. [Credit 'Morpheus'.]
That rumor was confirmed by Jawad over at his superb site that tracks everything Spielberg, Jawad's Steven Spielberg Page. Jawad's DreamWorks source confirmed the involvement of Otomo but also reported that there's no completed script in place, just a story premise. [Thanks to Jawad for the great assist!]