In 2009 Dreamworks Animation snapped up the rights to William Joyce’s book series, The Guardians Of Childhood, about a group of iconic figures, including Santa Claus, Jack Frost, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy, who are sworn to protect children from the forces of evil.
Now things are moving forward, with Dreamworks announcing, via Variety, the voice cast for the flick, which will include Chris Pine, Hugh Jackman, Jude Law, Alec Baldwin and Isla Fisher.
It certainly sounds like they’re planning a franchise, as the movie will go by the name Rise Of The Guardians (which is a little too close to the recent Legend Of The Guardians, but perhaps Dreamworks if hoping people will have forgotten about that movie by the time their flick debuts in November 2012).
While Joyce’s books apparently each concentrate on a different classic figure, the film will have more a superhero team angle, with Jack Frost, North (aka Santa), Bunnymund (the Easter Bunny), Tooth (the Tooth Fairy), and Sandy (the Sandman) joining together to stop an ancient spirit called Pitch (who’s similar to the Boogeyman) who has plans to take over the world. While the iconic figures will be recognisable, they’ll also be massively reimagined for this contemporary tale.
Law will play Pitch (the Boogeyman), Pine is Jack Frost, Jackman is Bunnymund, Baldwin is North and Fisher plays Tooth. Interestingly Leo DiCaprio was once signed up with play Jack Frost, but he’s no longer part of the equation.
It’s certainly an interesting idea and with Pulitzer Prize-winner David Lindsay-Abaire on scripting duties and Guilermo Del Toro producing, it could be well worth a watch.