Update: Probably would've found Mr. Lieberman's IMDb page had I been looking up <em>Matt</em> Lieberman instead of Tim. Ah, the perils of rushing up a news story at the end of a long day. My apologiest.
Beaks here...
Hey, I don't have an IMDb page either, so I'm not making fun of Matt Lieberman with that headline (who actually does have a rather slender IMDb entry). If anyhing, I'm encouraged by Dimension Films' willingness to issue a press release trumpeting the hire of a rookie screenwriter. If only he'd been hired to write something I want to see.
The original SHORT CIRCUIT is a nostalgic favorite of some, but it's really just John Badham drowning the antiwar message of WARGAMES in Amblin-esque schmaltz. I understand why Dimension would like to revisit the property, but I lost all interest when they brought on the director of HOP and ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS.
But I'm not the audience for this. Like the original, it's a kids movie. But some of you might have more affection for the original than I do, so feel free to unload. Just lay off Mr. Lieberman. Everyone's gotta start somewhere.
Here's the press release from Dimension...
New York, NY, February 2, 2012 - Dimension Films announced today that they have hired Matt Lieberman to pen their family film SHORT CIRCUIT. Lieberman will work closely with already attached director Tim Hill (HOP, ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS) in the reimagining of the 80s classic. Lieberman is a recent alumni of the Disney writers program. Details of the new take are currently being kept under wraps.
“Dimension has had great success with the SPY KIDS family series which grossed over $500 million worldwide,” said Bob Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company (TWC). “We are looking for SHORT CIRCUIT to be our next family franchise and are excited to be working with Matt Lieberman and Tim Hill, who has had great International success with HOP and ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS.”
David Foster, who produced the original, is producing with Ryan E. Heppe, John Hyde and Brian Manis.
Shooting is scheduled for the end of the year with a release in Summer 2013.
The deal was negotiated for Dimension Films by Adrian Lopez, VP of Business and Legal and Matthew Signer, SVP of Production and Creative Affairs; for the filmmakers by Brad Rosenfeld at Preferred Artists and Melissa Rogal at Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler & Feldman, Inc.. Lieberman is represented by Rosenfeld, Rogal and Adam Kolbrenner at Madhouse.
