DVDizzy Forum

The studio has picked up a pitch from Robert Rugan, an award-winning commercials director, who is writing an updated take on the characters in what is being envisioned as a live-action/CG hybrid.
Mandeville Films/TV, the Disney-based production shingle run by David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman that is also behind the studio’s Muppets franchise, is producing.
Chip ‘n’ Dale first appeared in a 1943 animated short starring Pluto, and went on to appear in 22 reels stretching into the mid-1950s where the duo either annoyed Mickey’s faithful four-legged friend or squared off against Donald Duck.
They popped up in various Disney cartoons and comics but got a makeover in in 1989 with Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers. The show saw Chip, the brains behind the pair, and Dale, the goofball, running a detective agency and helping animal clients. Disney made three seasons' worth of shows that then ran in syndication for the next decade on The Disney Channel.
It is from Rescue Rangers that the new project would spring as it tells an origin story of sorts.
Mandeville's Alexander Young is overseeing for the shingle and will exec produce.
Live-action/CG hybrids have proven to be quite successful. Fox is in the process of making a fourth Alvin and the Chipmunks picture while Sony Pictures Animation made two Smurfs movie.
Mandeville's Muppets Most Wanted hits theaters March 21.
STORY: PGS Entertainment Takes Rights to New 'Alvin and the Chipmunks' Series
Rugan has done spots for companies such as Visa, IFC, HBO, Kodak, Nikon and Durex, winning two CLIO Awards and the CyberLion at Cannes. He was also behind popular video Wiley vs Rhodes, a live-action spoof of a Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner cartoon.
Rugen is attached to direct Genies (aka Children of the Lamp) at Paramount with Color Force (The Hunger Games) attached to produced. He is currently adapting the book series The Genius Files for Warners and wrote an original script titled Beauregard Thibodeau to which he is attached to direct while Logan Pictures is on board to produce.
He is repped by Verve, Kaplan/Perrone and Hirsch Wallerstein.

estefan wrote:I guess I'll be the only positive guy here, because I have to say I'm really excited for this movie. I think it's great that the Mouse is looking back at their Disney Afternoon days and the potential is so high to create an amazing Chip n Dale movie. I trust they will hired some talented folks to work on this.

Also, can you imagine the theme song playing in Surround Sound? Going to be amazing.

SWillie! wrote:Yes, the *idea* of a Chip and Dale/Rescue Rangers movie is an exciting one. The fact that they are hopefully looking back at Disney Afternoon is great. But it's the way it's supposedly being done. They have to realize that "small CG creatures in large live action human world" is (1) completely outdone, and (2) immensely frowned upon by anyone who knows what they're talking about. Yes, the money is obviously there. But does Disney *need* to stoop there?

They could have Disneytoon create the same movie, except as an animated film (CG or traditional), and it would probably be great. It would serve the same purpose, to revive these characters, and it would be leaving these classic characters in the hands of people who understand how they should be handled.

MovieMan995 wrote:The original animated series placed emphasis on scale though, and since because they were so small, everything to them appeared quite large, so seeing the real world from such a perspective in a live-action film could potentially work. I'm sure that when it was announced, there weren't many expecting great things from a 101 Dalmatians live-action film either, but that apparently was successful for Disney, so I'll wait to hear more about this before I form too much of an opinion. The original cartoon did have a 5-part origin story though, IIRC. Also, IMO, this will probably guarantee the release of the 2 remakes of the Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers games from the NES, plus character releases for Disney Infinity, so consider that a positive if you're not thrilled about the live-action movie.

Mickeyfan1990 wrote:I'm surprised the Chip n Dale movie is going to be based on the Disney Afternoon show! In today's time that would never seem likely.