After being pushed off of American Dog at Disney, Lilo & Stitch director Chris Sanders has moved to DreamWorks Animation to helm the cavemen comedy Crood Awakening. DreamWorks was initially developing Crood with Aardman Animations before the two parted ways this year in the wake of poor box office for Flushed Away, their third feature collaboration.
Crood Awakening revolves around a culture clash between enlightened cavemen and their less evolved counterparts. DreamWorks Animation execs were apparently so enamored with the premise that they decided to move forward with the pic without Aardman’s involvement. The first script was written by comedy legend John Cleese of Monty Python fame, along with Kirk De Micco (Racing Stripes), but Sanders may end up doing re-writes.
‘I look forward to working with Jeffrey [Katzenberg] and the other filmmakers at DreamWorks Animation,’ Sanders comments. ‘They have dedicated themselves to a complex and classic craft, but have also proven that they are driven to take it to new places. It is their willingness to break boundaries that makes them unique. I’ve seen firsthand where they are headed, and I’m excited to be part of it.”
A 20-year Disney veteran, Sanders will join fellow Mouse House expatriate Rob Minkoff at DreamWorks. Minkoff recently signed on to direct the studio’s animated feature based on the ’60s cartoon series Mr. Peabody and Sherman. Since DreamWorks’ toon dancecard is filled for the next few years, Crood Awakening isn’t likely to hit theaters until late 2010 or 2011.
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