Walden Media, Beacon Pictures and Revolution Studios are teaming to produce a “Narnia”-scale film based on children’s fantasy novel The Water Horse, by British author Dick King-Smith.
Variety says Robert Nelson Jacobs will write the live-action/CGI movie and Jay Russell will direct. “My Dog Skip” helmer Jay Rusell will work on a script from Robert Nelson Jacob (Chocolate), for Walden to co-produce with Beacon Pictures and Revolution Studios. No cast announced yet, but expect the project to firmly aim at its share of the Christmas market. Production is expected to begin in May in New Zealand.
The Ecosse Films production will be the last film Revolution will make under its current term agreement with Sony.
The Water Horse tells the story of a lonely boy in Scotland who finds a mysterious egg from which hatches a “water horse” — a mythical sea monster of Scottish legend.
Russell, who has been pursuing this project for five years, said that the tone and look of the film will be more realistic than fantastical.
Producing are Robert Bernstein, Douglas Rae, Barrie Osborne and Charlie Lyons.
The special effects will be done by Weta Digital and Weta Workshop, which most recently created the visual effects in King Kong. Weta also worked on Walden’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, which was produced in association with Disney.