Barry Sonnenfeld is set to produce the animated comedy Space Chimps along with Vanguard Animation and Starz Media. Twentieth Century Fox will distribute. Sonnenfeld has been a creative consultant on the film since it began production last fall.
This will be Sonnenfeld’s first animated feature project. Among Sonnenfeld’s credits: Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events and Out of Sight. The writer/director/producer directed Get Shorty, Men in Black and Men in Black II.
“I’m thrilled to be producing Space Chimps with John Williams, the fantastic producer of the Shrek dynasty,’ says Sonnenfeld. ‘I think Chimps has the potential to be a very successful commercial movie, which will work for kids, teens and adults. I’m proud to be a part of it.”
“We have kept the lid on some of the key creative elements of Space Chimps until now,” notes producer John H. Williams (Shrek, Happily N’Ever After, Valiant). “Kirk DiMicco [Racing Stripes, Casper’s Scare School, Crood Awakening] was the originator of Space Chimps and its writer; he has proven himself to also be the perfect director for this movie. When Barry Sonnenfeld came onto the project, he and Kirk reinvented and enhanced our story and cast. Barry’s contributions as producer have been exceptional. This movie feels like an epic space adventure and a great space parody-comedy at the same time. “
The movie is described as a comedy-adventure about two mismatched NASA chimps that are sent to a faraway galaxy, where they help save the inhabitants of a planet from its tyrannical leader. In the cast for the 2008 release are Jeff Daniels, Cheryl Hines, Saturday Night Live cast members Andy Samberg and Kenan Thompson as well as Stanley Tucci, Kristin Chenoweth and Patrick Warburton. Dave Stewart and Blue Man Group will provide the film’s music.
