Hollywood’s getting a Woody. A Woody Woodpecker film that is.
Anybody remember the last time Woody Woodpecker was socially relevant? It’s got to be longer than The Muppets, who find their way on the big screen for the first time since 1999’s Muppets from Space.
Woody hasn’t been on the big screen in decades, but that’s not stopping Illumination Entertainment, the Universal-based animation house behind Despicable Me and next year’s Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, from bringing the cartoon character to theaters once again. John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky, who previously co-wrote the Will Ferrell comedy Blades of Glory, are in talks to develop a story.
Woody Woodpecker has been around since 1940, first envisioned as being rambunctious and brash, but then mellowed the next decade. The theatrical cartoon shorts have the distinction of having its theme song nominated for an Oscar for Best Song. No other short film has had a song nominated for an Academy Award.
Universal bought the library of shorts back in 1985 but has failed to do much except release the shorts on DVD.
