Variety reports on some doings over at DreamWorks Animation, and they’ve got a lot more on tap than just another "Shrek" and "Madagascar 2." How about "Kung Fu Panda," starring Jack Black?
"Influenced by cartoonish live-action pics like "Kung Fu Hustle," "Panda" will star Black as the voice of a lazy panda prophesied to save the Valley of Peace.
For 2009 and beyond, DreamWorks Animation has four potential projects in the hopper: "How to Train Your Dragon," "Rex Havoc," "It Came From Earth!" and "Route 66."
"How to Train Your Dragon" is based on the children’s book by Cressida Cowell in which the son of a Viking chief must capture a dragon in order to be initiated into his tribe.
"Rex Havoc," based on the classic horror comicbook, is about a monster hunter called upon to battle aliens who have disrupted cable TV service. Rex assembles a team of monsters to help including Ick!, Dr. Cockroach, the 50,000 Pound Woman and Insectosaurus.
"It Came From Earth!" is a reverse alien invasion story told from the perspective of Martians when human astronauts arrive.
"Route 66" is the story of Mulligan, a giant golf ball statue on the side of legendary Route 66. When Betty, a giant blueberry who hovers above a produce stand on the other side of the street, is carted off one day, Mulligan steps down off his pedestal and sets off to find the love of his life.
All of the pics in DreamWorks Animation’s pipeline bear some resemblance to "Shrek," with main characters that can appeal to kids but a wry sense of humor and double entendres that can amuse adults.
Next year, DreamWorks Animation releases "Over the Hedge" and "Flushed Away." If either is a big success, studio will likely put a sequel into production for 2009, where it would be joined by one of the pics in development."
