DreamWorks Animation has been on a real development streak recently, what with the Guillermo del Toro-supported Alma and **Trollhunters, plus comic book adaptation Maintenance and musical Monkeys of Bollywood. And now the company is dipping into childhood TV, planning to turn Sid and Marty Krofft’s trippy ‘70s series **Lidsville **into a film.
We’re somewhat surprised by this one, since the last time the Kroffts’ particular form of entertaining whimsy was given the blockbuster treatment, the result was Land of the Lost, which was (unfairly) critically mauled and keeled over like a dead T-Rex at the box office. And since then, progress on other Krofft properties has been quiet.
But the brothers have a champion in Monsters Vs Aliens director Conrad Vernon, who has rose-tinted memories of the show and brought the story of a rebellious lad who has adventures in a strange world of living, talking hats to his bosses. “Over the past year I’ve had the privilege of working with and getting to know Sid and Marty and I thought their brand of crazy kookiness would work well at DreamWorks Animation,” said Vernon in the press release.
The Kroffts also seem to think it’s a good idea: “Sid and I have had a longstanding relationship with Jeffrey Katzenberg and we’re excited to bring Lidsville to DreamWorks Animation,” adds Marty Krofft. “It’s incredible to envision a high-quality 3D animated movie being made out of one of our favourite shows.”
While the film won’t stick religiously to the show’s, er, “plot,” at least animation seems like the right medium for the wackiness. It remains to be seen whether it makes it though development…