Raja Gosnell to Direct Smurfs Movie

Posted on July 9, 2009

The Hollywood Reporter says Raja Gosnell (Scooby-Doo) has signed on to direct the Smurfs movie for Columbia Pictures and Sony Animation. Hollywood Reporter also says the film be a live action/animated hybrid.

Gosnell's addition only complements the team. The editor-turned-director is best known for helming "Scooby-Doo" and "Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed," as well as last year's Beverly Hills Chihuahua." The movies combined live actors and settings with photorealistic animated talking animals such as dogs and rats. Turning his attention to the small blue characters created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo was the next step.

Kerner, who has been developing the project for the past seven years, said: "With Raja coming aboard, we now have a brilliant director who has proven time and again that he has a deft touch in blending the worlds of physical comedy and honest emotion with both live action and photo-real animated characters. Our three-apple-high heroes are in good hands, and we feel absolutely positively Smurfy to be working with him."

The Smurf film was first announced last year when the Smurfs were celebrating a 50-year anniversary and had a float in the Macy's parade. The movie will arrive in theatres on Dec. 17, 2010. Hollywood Reporter says Smurf favorites Papa Smurf and Smurfette and the villain Gargamel are in the movie.

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