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More on that Lemony Snicket sequel: Would you believe animation?
Director Brad Silberling confirmed to SCI FI Wire that he hopes to resuscitate the Lemony Snicket movie series, but in a different way from 2004's live-action film adaptation of Daniel Handler's beloved children's book series: stop-motion animation.
"Daniel Handler and I stayed in touch, and I think just charging off and doing another live-action movie is one way to go," Silberling said in an exclusive interview Thursday in Santa Monica, Calif., where he was promoting his upcoming Land of the Lost. "[But] what I got excited about was the idea of completely turning it on its ear and finding a whole other medium in which to work."
Silberling directed the original film, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, which follows the adventures of a trio of orphans who are pursued by a distant relative intent on killing them and claiming their inheritance. The film starred Jim Carrey, Emily Browning and Liam Aiken (pictured above).
Silbering revealed that he already has specific ideas about how a sequel would transition from the original film's style into something different. "So, again, nothing too concrete, but my thing I talked to Handler about was if you start the movie with everybody thinking you're heading into another live-action movie," Silberling said.
"But it's taken so long for this one to happen, and Olaf is still stuck in the makeup trailer and everyone else, and so Lemony Snicket basically tells you, 'Unfortunately, enough waiting: No, we're going to have to tell you the real story.' Boom, you dial through a soundstage door, and you're introduced into a stop-motion universe, and actually that's my hope is for the next film, that it can be stop-motion."
Silberling also said there are some outstanding legal issues revolving around the franchise, but added that he hopes they will be summarily resolved and that the films will stay with their original distributor.
"Anytime you have a studio split—and there was a studio split between Paramount and DreamWorks, everybody can see that they're no longer sort of together," he said. "But that actually is not a bad thing for us; I think Paramount in particular had expressed interest in maybe trying to find a way back to the franchise."
By Methos at 2:46 PM ON 05/29/09
Animation would be a good way to take the film franchise. Considering the facts that kids from the first film are in there 20's now. And they would have to recast, This way it would be easier than trying to find a new cast of kids that look like the originals.
By budgethero at 5:25 PM ON 05/29/09
i totally wouldnt mind that. i liked the movie alot. i want more. and if it's stop motion even better. we'll miss out on Carry's physical acting, which is a loss, but if he's still voiceing it, id have confidence in the project.
By Uve at 7:12 PM ON 05/29/09
Animation? No way.
The fans want the original cast back. What about changing the Baudelaire ages? The actors still look young!!! This is unfair...
By budgethero at 1:07 PM ON 05/30/09
it's four years later. they'll look older. they could still voice it, but that baby an't no baby no more.
By Monsters and Rockets at 11:53 PM ON 05/31/09
I don't really understand the transition he describes... I can understand just doing the sequel with stop-motion, but I don't understand having the narrator say, "Well, enough waiting for this sequel to start... Let's just do the whole thing with animation instead." There's no real point to that, it seems self-referential in a very clumsy way.
By ernesto at 3:12 AM ON 09/25/09
noo animation!
live action! its only 4 years, the emily and liam can still play the parts, they really dont look too much older, PLUS dan and the other harry potter actors are way over their characters age and still pull it off, KEEP THE SAME ACTORS!!!:D
By Adam at 6:52 PM ON 12/28/09
I agree with ernesto, no animation here as well. Im glad someone has noticed how Harry Potter pulled it off, instead of wasting time whilst the actors are getting even more older, they should start shooting a live action. I love the books, my heart will sink if they make this weird transition. :(
By lola at 11:08 AM ON 01/24/10
i love the first movie and i dont really care if it live acion or not as long as it comes out soon real soon like next week
By Arli at 12:53 PM ON 02/06/10
Personally, I think that a stop-motion film wouldn't cut it. Another one in live action would be MUCH better, I think. A re-make of the entire thing. One. Two. Three, until thirteen. I swear, it'd be better.
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Arli:
Personally, I think that a stop-motion film wouldn't cut it. Another one in live action would be MUCH better, I thi...More »