DreamWorks Animation is reportedly venturing into Disney territory with a direct-to-video spin-off of its hugely successful computer-animated sequel, Shrek 2. According to Daily Variety, the studio has signed Ed Decter and John Strauss, writers of The Lizzie Maguire Movie, to script an animated movie that focuses on the scene-stealing Puss in Boots character voiced by Antonio Banderas.
Banderas has yet to make a deal, but it is unlikely that DreamWorks would further exploit the character without the participation of the purr-fectly cast star of such swashbucklers as The Mask of Zorro and Desperado.
While the Puss pic is likely to go to the lucrative direct-to-video market, there is a chance it could wind up on the big screen. You may recall that Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 2 was originally slated to bow on video but the quality of the film convinced Disney to send it to theaters. However, that movie reunited the whole cast of Toy Story characters and their respective voicers. Puss may have emerged as the breakout character in Shrek 2, but it’s not certain that the cat could drag in audiences without his green ogre buddy in tow.
Disney has been widely criticized by fans for exploiting its major animated properties with lower-budget video releases often referred to as "cheapquels." While many say the move diminishes the overall value of the franchises, the market has proven to be a cash cow for the Mouse House and DreamWorks would no doubt risk disappointing some fans for a piece of that pie.
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