Animation director Tom McGrath (the "Madagascar" films, "Megamind") is in talks to direct the Ben Stiller-led live action comedy "RentaGhost" at 20th Century Fox says Variety.
An adaptation of the late 70's/early 80's BBC children's comedy show, the story centers on a recently deceased 27-year-old man who, determined to be more productive in the afterlife, creates RentaGhost which leases out ghouls, ghosts and other specters to the living.
Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant ("Night at the Museum") are penning the script. Kevin McCormick, Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun and Patrick Pidgeon will produce.
An adaptation of the late 70's/early 80's BBC children's comedy show, the story centers on a recently deceased 27-year-old man who, determined to be more productive in the afterlife, creates RentaGhost which leases out ghouls, ghosts and other specters to the living.
Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant ("Night at the Museum") are penning the script. Kevin McCormick, Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun and Patrick Pidgeon will produce.
- 7/28/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Russell Brand is apparently in talks to star as scarecrow Worzel Gummidge in a new movie adaptation of the children's story.
The ITV show about the talking scarecrow, starring Doctor Who's John Pertwee and Una Stubbs as his love interest Aunt Sally, was a big hit in the 1980s.
Hollywood producer Patrick Pidgeon told The Daily Star he is keen to remake the show for the big screen with a modern twist and thinks Russell, 36, would be perfect for the role.
He said: "The actor who plays Worzel doesn't have to look like John Pertwee.
"I want to come up with a new way of how the character became Worzel. And maybe we could take him out of a rural setting into a Victorian town."
Patrick, who is also working on a movie version of 80s TV series Rentaghost starring Ben Stiller, said of Worzel Gummidge: "It's had zero exposure here.
The ITV show about the talking scarecrow, starring Doctor Who's John Pertwee and Una Stubbs as his love interest Aunt Sally, was a big hit in the 1980s.
Hollywood producer Patrick Pidgeon told The Daily Star he is keen to remake the show for the big screen with a modern twist and thinks Russell, 36, would be perfect for the role.
He said: "The actor who plays Worzel doesn't have to look like John Pertwee.
"I want to come up with a new way of how the character became Worzel. And maybe we could take him out of a rural setting into a Victorian town."
Patrick, who is also working on a movie version of 80s TV series Rentaghost starring Ben Stiller, said of Worzel Gummidge: "It's had zero exposure here.
- 2/7/2012
- by PA
- Huffington Post
London, Feb 7: Russell Brand may play Worzel Gummidge in a big-screen remake of the 80s television hit.
Hollywood producers reckon the British comedian would be perfect to play the famous talking scarecrow.
Efforts are under way to secure Peter Jackson of the 'Lord Of The Rings' fame.
He was involved in the original series when filming was relocated to his native New Zealand in 1987.
The ITV show drew massive audiences with ex-'Doctor Who' actor Jon Pertwee in the title role alongside Una Stubbs, 74, as Aunt Sally.
Us executives reckon a modern overhaul will rake in millions. Patrick Pidgeon,.
Hollywood producers reckon the British comedian would be perfect to play the famous talking scarecrow.
Efforts are under way to secure Peter Jackson of the 'Lord Of The Rings' fame.
He was involved in the original series when filming was relocated to his native New Zealand in 1987.
The ITV show drew massive audiences with ex-'Doctor Who' actor Jon Pertwee in the title role alongside Una Stubbs, 74, as Aunt Sally.
Us executives reckon a modern overhaul will rake in millions. Patrick Pidgeon,.
- 2/7/2012
- by Ketali Mehta
- RealBollywood.com
Someone actually wants to make a Hollywood film of 80s kids' series Worzel Gummidge? Shouldn't they get their thinking head on?
Age: 76.
Appearance: Scruffy, dirty, turnip for a head.
Either you're looking in a mirror … Very funny.
… Or we're strolling down memory lane. Wasn't this a kids' TV show 30-odd years ago? It certainly was. Worzel was a scarecrow with interchangeable heads for specific activities such as thinking, dancing or working. He had a comedy West Country accent and spent 30 episodes getting into tight spots from which he had to be rescued by a pair of kids. There was nothing he liked more than "a cup o' tea an' a slice o' cake".
Sounds terrible. That's "classic" TV for you.
Who was to blame for it? Barbara Euphan Todd wrote the books, but the TV scripts were by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall, who also worked together on the film Billy Liar.
Age: 76.
Appearance: Scruffy, dirty, turnip for a head.
Either you're looking in a mirror … Very funny.
… Or we're strolling down memory lane. Wasn't this a kids' TV show 30-odd years ago? It certainly was. Worzel was a scarecrow with interchangeable heads for specific activities such as thinking, dancing or working. He had a comedy West Country accent and spent 30 episodes getting into tight spots from which he had to be rescued by a pair of kids. There was nothing he liked more than "a cup o' tea an' a slice o' cake".
Sounds terrible. That's "classic" TV for you.
Who was to blame for it? Barbara Euphan Todd wrote the books, but the TV scripts were by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall, who also worked together on the film Billy Liar.
- 2/7/2012
- The Guardian - Film News
Ben Stiller will star in Fox's adaptation of the BBC children's television comedy show "RentaGhost."According to Variety, Langley Park's Kevin McCormick is producing along with Patrick Pidgeon, as well as BermanBraun's Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun.The comedy had been in development at Warner Bros. with Russell Brand starring before Fox acquired it.Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant ("Night at the Museum") will write the script.The original show was created by Bob Block and ran for 58 episodes between January of 1976 and June of 1984.The premise centered on the recently-deceased loser Fred Mumford being determined to be more productive in the afterlife than he was during his 27 years with the living. He establishes the temp agency for the dead,...
- 10/13/2011
- by Adnan Tezer
- Monsters and Critics
Taking another inspiration from across the pond, 20th Century Fox will adapt the British comedy show, Rentaghost, that aired from 1976 to 1984 on BBC1. Actor Ben Stiller (Tower Heist, Zoolander) will headline the project and is reunited with his Night at the Museum scribes, Tom Lennon and Robert Ben Garant.
Rentaghost, the television series, was about a “supernatural firm called Rentaghost, which rented out spirits for a variety of tasks.” According to Deadline, Fox’s version will have Stiller will “play an American turnaround consultant who is sent to the UK to reinvigorate a failing company.” This project originally was pursued by Warner Bros. with Russell Brand to star, but due to Arthur’s lackluster performance at the box office, the deal did not close. Fox is hoping that Rentaghost will become the next family franchise of films for them.
Rentaghost will be produced by Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun of BermanBraun,...
Rentaghost, the television series, was about a “supernatural firm called Rentaghost, which rented out spirits for a variety of tasks.” According to Deadline, Fox’s version will have Stiller will “play an American turnaround consultant who is sent to the UK to reinvigorate a failing company.” This project originally was pursued by Warner Bros. with Russell Brand to star, but due to Arthur’s lackluster performance at the box office, the deal did not close. Fox is hoping that Rentaghost will become the next family franchise of films for them.
Rentaghost will be produced by Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun of BermanBraun,...
- 10/13/2011
- by Lillian 'zenbitch' Standefer
- ScifiMafia
Ben Stiller is set to star in 'Rentaghost'. The actor-and-director will reunite with his 'Night at the Museum' writers Tom Lennon and Robert Ben Garant on the 20th Century Fox project, which will see Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun and Kevin McCormick produce the movie. The film - which has lined up Patrick Pidgeon as executive producer and Andrew Mittman as associate producer - is set to be based on the 1970s British children's TV series of the same name, which featured a number of ghouls who worked for a supernatural company called 'Rentaghost' that hired out...
- 10/13/2011
- Virgin Media - Movies
Exclusive: 20th Century Fox has acquired rights to the supernatural British comedy show Rentaghost, and has re-teamed Ben Stiller with his Night At The Museum writers Tom Lennon and Robert Ben Garant. The film will be produced by Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun through BermanBraun and Kevin McCormick through Langley Park. Patrick Pidgeon is exec producer and Andrew Mittman is associate producer. The comedy will be based on the British TV kid series that ran on BBC1 from 1976-84. The project was once in negotiations to land at Warner Bros with Berman and McCormick as a vehicle for Russell Brand, but he withdrew after Arthur didn’t open strongly, and the studio never closed the deal. If Stiller, Lennon and Garant can replicate anything close to Night at the Museum, this could be another strong family franchise for Fox, where Stiller’s Red Hour is based. The original show involved a supernatural firm called Rentaghost,...
- 10/12/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
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