Sad news for Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson, Universal Pictures has decided to pull out of the three picture deal for the CGI adaptation of Tintin.  The biggest reason for the break in the deal wasn’t Spielberg trying to break DreamWorks away from Paramount, but the $130 million budget.  In a day an age where $130 million seems like a drop in the bucket for a franchise that could literally net Universal ten times that in world wide distribution, something certainly seems fishy. Perhaps it was the 30% of gross Spielberg and Jackson wanted - meaning Tintin would have to gross $425 million before it broke even and Universal started seeing a profit.

But fear not Herge fans, the duo have taken their proposal to Paramount… oh, yeah, that whole split thing might be a hang up.  Paramount has had the proposal for several weeks now, so it Tintin is simply awaiting a yay or nay from the suits.

via Empire Online

Hollywood Reporting is saying Steven Moffat of Dr. Who fame is writing the adaptation of Tintin for Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson.

Kathleen Kennedy is serving as producer on the three feature films, which will be made using performance-capture technology and produced in digital 3-D. Jackson and Spielberg are each directing an installment, with the helmer of the third movie to be determined.

There’s no word what stories are going to be adapted into the three films, but my guess is we won’t be seeing Tintin in the Congo.
via Hollywood Reporter

Variety is reporting Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson are teaming up to bring Tintin to the big screen. Speculation on the success of the first film is so high, DreamWorks, Spielberg, and Jackson will be directing and producing three back to back features.

Spielberg and Jackson will each direct one of the movies, but no word on who the third director would be. Could it be long time Spielberg friend George Lucas?

With WETA Digital behind the character creations, these films will be 3D animated features instead of trying to cast actors in the roles.

Jackson said WETA will stay true to Remi’s original designs in bringing the cast of Tintin to life, but that the characters won’t look cartoonish.

“Instead,” Jackson said, “we’re making them look photorealistic; the fibers of their clothing, the pores of their skin and each individual hair. They look exactly like real people — but real Herge people!”

Photorealistc 3D Tintin? Sounds like an interesting take. There is no word on when the first film will be released, but since Spielberg and Jackson will be wrapping their current productions by the end of this year.

via Variety

Steven Spielberg commented to attendees at a lunch gala he still has plans to bring the French adventurer to the screen.

As for Tintin, Spielberg recalled that he had first acquired the rights to that character back in 1983 and later re-established the option to do something with the French comic character.

via Variety (link)