Here’s a family I didn’t grew up with, BERENSTAIN BEARS. Up until today, I practically didn’t know jack about these guys. The family consists of Papa Bear, the bumbling and clumsy woodworker father; Mama Bear, his wise and knowledgeable homemaker wife; and their three children: Brother Bear who’s protective of his sister, the free spirited, energetic Sister Bear, and Honey Bear. Stories are set in Bear Country as they deal with topics relevant to both children and parents. Based on a 2D children’s books that’s going to hit the big screen…
USA TODAY says Walden Media, the company behind the Narnia films, has bought the rights and filmmaker Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum movies) is set to produce the BERENSTAIN BEARS Movie that’s going to be hybrid (mix of CG and live action). It doesn’t say yet if Levy’s also going to direct the project.
The characters were created and the books were written by Jan and the late Stan Berenstain, started in 1962 with the title The Big Honey Hunt. There have been over 300 BERENSTAIN BEARS books published since then. The characters have also gone through several TV series and Holiday specials.
Currently there are no screenwriters hired yet for the adaptation but as far as the direction on what the movie’s going to be like, Shawn Levy wants it to have the same tone as Will Ferrell‘s Elf, the bears family will clash with his cynical surroundings, while Walden Media thinks of them as similar to The Beverly Hillbillies or The Addams Family, the bears couldn’t quite fit in but manage to survive.
They’re putting BERENSTAIN BEARS on a fast track. Pre-prouduction will start late next year and it’s expected to hit theaters in late 2011
