I’m sure you’ve all heard of Shane Acker and of course his feature directorial debut in 2009 with 9, he did indeed put in a lot of time and hard work into the feature, years of work actually that began with the short film of the same title, released in 2005. The former WETA animator didn’t really get the best of receptions with 9, but the feature film with all its dark freakiness has quite a few fans, thanks to some excellent character designs.
And now he’s back with a very different sort of movie. The title of the film is not out yet, but it takes place in Sodor, which readers with young children will be able to identify as the home of Thomas the Tank Engine.
Deadline says that WETA and Mattel are working on the film, with a script by Chris Viscardi & Will McRobb and Josh Klausner. Shane Acker though, seems like a weird choice; as 9 was a much darker film than anything set in Sodor will ever be.
This is what Shane Acker told Deadline regarding the feature,
I’m a recent father, with a 20-month old daughter… We lead such busy lives in Hollywood, always running and hustling, but children tend to slow you down a bit and reconnect you with that inner world. It reinvents your imagination, seeing things through a child’s eyes It was transformative for me and that is what inspired me about the possibilities here. The tale will revolve around a pre-teen boy who has drifted apart from his father. The son is introduced into this world of Sodor, a place his father visited as a child but can’t remember. There is a bonding experience.
And here’s the plot synopsis;
Demonic forces of art and commerce fight for territory in a post apocalyptic inferno, while diminutive minions keep the ball rolling below…
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