Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.

Okay... here's a grain of salt for you, and one for you, and one for... aw, hell, the box's by the door. Take one and get in here.

Now, keeping in mind that this is a rumor, and the last time I heard about TINTIN, Spielberg had extended his option, I don't know what to make of this. I grew up on TINTIN, though. It was one of those things that was around from the first time I can remember reading at the age of three. TINTIN was the first globe-trotting adventurer I ever knew, before Indiana Jones, before Jonny Quest, before any of the pulp novelists I read. TINTIN was always so elegantly drawn, so very European. I loved it, and I'd love to see someone make a really good film version. I certainly think Jeunet could do it justice if he wanted to. Let's see what our spy has to say about the matter...

Hi Harry! Olivier here, from Animated Movies. I love your site and noticed a story in the French Premiere that, if true, is very exciting: Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Delicatessen, Aliens Resurrection, Amelie) is currently working on a script about the adventures of the Belgium comic character Tintin, and considers the possibility of directing the feature, for the French studio UGC.

As a side story, Walt Disney himself wrote to Tintin creator Hergé in the '50s to discuss adapting the adventures of the famous reporter in an animated feature, but never got any response. Steven Spielberg then purchased the rights to Tintin that he held until 1987, and used it as one of the main references in his Indiana Jones movies. At the time, he considered producing a live feature directed by Jean-Jacques Beineix (Betty Blue), then Roman Polanski (Rosemary's Baby, Chinatown) who wanted to adapt the "Sceptre d'Ottokar" album. The current owners of the rights (Hergé's widow and her husband) recently told the Belgium press that, after seeing Shrek, they realized CGI was the way to animate Tintin and they'd love to move forward quickly with a CG feature. Which leaves the possibility of Jeunet being involved in this animated production!!

Thanks for your site, and have a great week!

Olivier

Check out Olivier's site, and thanks to him for the heads-up. We'll be checking into this and getting back to you all ASAP.

"Moriarty" out.