Gnomeo & Juliet - Release Scheduled for 2010

Wow!  A lot has happened to this little film since I last posted about it… all was quiet on the gnome front — and then…

Apparently, everything has changed again - and I expect to see things keep changing until this film is finally released.

 The lastest update includes an entire cast of characters change!

Old Cast of Characters
Ewan McGregor …. Gnomeo (voice)
Kate Winslet ….       Juliet (voice)
Judi Dench ….          Nurse (voice)

These actors have been replaced by:

New Cast of Characters
James McAvoy  …. Gnomeo (voice)
Emily Blunt ….        Juliet (voice)
??? ….                       Nurse (voice) 

Here is the “scoop” from the Hollywood Reporter from August 20, 2008

****************************************

McAvoy and Blunt are Gnomeo and Juliet

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

August 20, 2008

James McAvoy and Emily Blunt are in negotiations to play the title roles of Gnomeo and Juliet, a CGI-animated Shakespeare adaptation from Miramax and Elton John’s Rocket Pictures, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The film will feature several John classics but not Kate Winslet; she was first attached to voice Juliet two years ago and fell out because of scheduling conflicts. Tim Rice also was approached to write original songs with his “Lion King” partner John at the time, but the soundtrack now will be filled with the performer’s well-known hits and possibly a few new tracks.

In the loose and edgy adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, McAvoy (Wanted) and Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada) would play lovers from rival gardens. John, who is producing alongside his offscreen partner David Furnish, Baker Bloodworth and Steve Hamilton Shaw, is said to be pursuing big-name talent to voice supporting roles.

Kelly Asbury will direct from an original script by Rob Sprackling and John R. Smith. Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley and Mark Burton have worked on later versions of the screenplay. Now in the storyboard stage, production is expected to be completed by 2010.

Gnomeo & Juliet - Release Scheduled for 2010

Sir Elton John - Just say Gnome!

It is rumored that Elton John reportedly turned down the honor of having one of the gnome characters modeled after him in a cartoon movie he is producing (Gnomeo & Juliet). 

Apparently Sir Elton was not impressed with the gnome they made in his “supposed likeness” because he did not like the gnome’s hair, rotund curves or its habit of spending a fortune on flowers.

I can’t blame him one bit!  After all, he IS royalty!  You Go Sir Elton! 

The film to be released in 2008, is an animated Miramax backed venture called Gnomeo & Juliet and will be based on an adaptation of Shakespeare’s play. The film is being financed by Rocket Pictures, the production company of Elton John and partner David Furnish.  Elton will write the score for the film in collaboration with fellow musical arist Tim Rice.
 

Sir Elton John - Just say Gnome!

Gnomeo & Juliet - Movie Plot

MissGnomer really had to search high and low for ANY information about the plot of the Gnomeo & Juliet movie (other than the obvious of course).  However, I think I finally have the “scoop”!  Here is what I was able to find out and piece together:

Cast of Characters:
Ewan McGregor …. Gnomeo (voice)
Kate Winslet ….       Juliet (voice)
Judi Dench ….          Nurse (voice)

The cartoon movie takes place in an English garden where statues come to “life”.  Juliet (Kate Winslet) is a Gnome from indoors who falls in love with Gnomeo (Ewan McGregor) a gnome who lives outdoors. 

Dan Hahn, who was Disney’s producer on the project before it was moved over to Miramax Films was quoted as saying:

“It’s the indoor sculptures and figures and things, versus outdoor things that have been out in the rain.

“There are fighting families, flamingo races, and sprinklers, and getting hit by dogs and everything else. It’s a comedy.”

Hahn says the computer-animated fantasy is funny “because gnomes are so low-tech”.  He says: “You’re dealing with these little concrete sculptures in your backyard, little cement squirrels and mushrooms and things, so I think it’s less about creating some splashy new technology and more about something that’s really irreverent*.”

And so there you have it!  Now I can understand why Miramax is looking for pictures from REAL gnome gardens — and the more fanatical the better!  Hmmmm, I’m thinking I need to get busy on my Treasure Chest gnomescape and see if I can get my three little Beach gnomes in the movies!

Don’t they look like Movie Stars already?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

*American Heritage Dictionary’s meaning of “irreverent”
Critical of what is generally accepted or respected; satirical: irreverent humor

Gnomeo & Juliet - Movie Plot

Miramax Greenlights ‘Gnomeo And Juliet’

From an article posted 04/18/06

Elton John’s film project Gnomeo And Juliet has been given the green light by Miramax Films and will star Kate Winslet. The CG-animated feature is a twist on Shakespeare’s classic play and set in the world of garden gnomes.

The film was originally in development and Disney studios and John even made an appearance at a Disney showcase to promote the film’s proposed 2008 release. Sources familiar with the project say it has a Monty Python sensibility and the move to Miramax will give it an edgier, hipper tone.

John said in a statement, “I am very excited about working with Miramax. Gnomeo is an edgy concept and Miramax is the perfect home to push the envelope in animation.”

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

***********************************************
MissGnomers Observations:

Hmmmm…. sounds to me like Gnomeo & Juliet have found a new home over at Miramax Films.  If the good “Sir Elton John” wants to put his money behind the film, then I suppose it was only a matter of time before someone snapped up his offer!  The above article talks about “Miramax is the perfect home to push the envelope in animation”…  I’m still not too sure about the ending?  More research is necessary

Miramax Greenlights ‘Gnomeo And Juliet’

Disney Execs Drop Gnomeo & Juliet

The following article appeared 03/29/2006

Disney Execs Cancel Elton John’s Animated ‘Gnomeo & Juliet’

Elton John’s latest Disney collaboration has been mysteriously scrapped by movie executives. All animators working on animated musical Gnomeo & Juliet have been reassigned, and the project is no longer in production at Walt Disney Feature Animation, according to a studio release.

John was producing the quirky adaptation of William Shakespeare’s ”Romeo & Juliet” and was slated to write the film’s songs. Gnomeo was set to be Disney’s second collaboration with the rocker following 1994’s The Lion King, which featured John and lyricist Tim Rice’s Oscar-winning “Can You Feel The Love Tonight.”

Further details and reasons for the cancellation of the film have not been released.

 (This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
MissGnomer’s Observations:

If Disney did not want to make the Gnomeo & Juliet animated flick, I’m thinking it may have had something to do with the “story line”.  Even though Miramax is also owned by Disney — I believe Disney has a wholesome image to protect.

I mean seriously, watching “Old Yeller” die was pretty traumatic for me when I was a kid (sniffle) and we all remember what happened to poor Bambi’s Mommy (sob)!  Since the “quirky storyline” is based off of Shakespear’s “Romeo & Juliet” — I wonder just how would Disney deal with the double suicide of two Garden Gnomes in love?

I’m hoping the writers have come up with a happier ending to the Gnomish adaptation!  We shall see.

Gnome Pics: Gnomeo & Juliet Movie

It took me long enough to update my gnomescaping to a point where I thought the pictures would be acceptable (in MY eyes) to send off to David Seaton.  You’ll recall that David was hired by Miramax to gather gnome pictures for their upcoming movie “Gnomeo & Juliet”. 

He was looking for pictures from a “gnomes point of view”.  Below are a few of my favorites:

I sent David many pictures from my Gnome Sanctuary and as you can see — I had lots of “willing participants” for this photoshoot!  I am also happy to report that David emailed me back to let me know my photographs were forwarded to the proper people.  He said that he was no longer assigned to the Gnomeo & Juliet project — but that it was one of the most fun and interesting assignments he has had in a very long time. 

MissGnomer is not surprised by this at all.  In fact, we may have converted yet another “Believer”.  Gnome On David — Gnome On!

Gnome Pics: Gnomeo & Juliet Movie

Gnomeo & Juliet - Miramax Films

I have decided to post a copy of the email I received from the Gentleman in the UK about the upcoming cartoon film - Gnomeo & Juliet.  He signed up to post on the Gnome Forum and before I approved his membership — we had a nice email conversation.  Below is one of his emails:

“Many thanks for your email. 
 
I am a film and television location manager and at present I am being employed by Miramax Films to do some research for a computer animated feature film entitled ‘Gnomio and Juliet’, an animated twist on the Shakespeare classic.
 
The producers of the movie have asked me to track down people in the UK who are passionate about gnomes AND gardening and who combine the two.  Ideally, they are looking for the weird and wonderful - maybe gardens with mini-rivers and ponds and small bridges, fantastical landscapes which, of course, feature lots of gnomes going about their gnome business.  The wilder and wackier, the better. There are a couple of tourist attraction gnome reserves in the UK but the producers are more interested in the personal touch - the sort of thing you’d only find in a gnome fanatic’s garden.  They are looking for ideas which they might be able to work into the movie.
  
I look forward to hearing from you.
 
Regards

David Seaton
Location Scout / Location Manager”

Hmmm… so he’s looking for some Gnome fanatics eh?  And he wants pics that MIRAMAX may be able to work into the movie!  Wooooooooo Hooooooooooooooooo!  I am all over that!  Stay tuned on this topic!

Gnomeo & Juliet - Miramax Films

Miramax Gnome Movie

I received a very interesting email from a gentleman claiming to be a Film and Television Location Manager from the UK that has been employed by Miramax Films to do some gnome research.  He told me the film, Gnomeo & Juliet, an animated twist on the Shakespeare classic — is scheduled to be out sometime in 2008.

His “mission” is to find “amazing gnome habitats and photograph them from as many angles as possible.”  He said the Miramax producers are interested in shots that would be taken from the gnomes point of view — ie; close up and low to the ground.

I want to send him some photos of my gnomescaping — but of course I want to spruce up my gnomescapes before doing so.  I invited everyone on the Forum to send David their pictures.

Wouldn’t it be FUN to see our gnomescapes cartoonized on the big screen by Miramax Films?  I must do some research on this movie — supposedly the idea for this flick started back in 1996.  More details as I find them.

Miramax Gnome Movie