Well ol' Father Geek was sitting around Geek World Headquarters today dying from lack of E-mail when the phone rings. I check the caller ID and note that its out of area, I pickup hoping Harry's on the other end. Alas, there was only this humming, no, make that more of a buzz through which I could barely makeout the plea, "Help me... Help me." I know that voice, its Seth our fly on the wall at Warner Animation... I start up the high speed recorder, and...
I was buzzing around Jean MacCurdy's (President of Warners Animation) head yesterday in her lovely 12th floor conference room overlooking Sherman Oaks and the rest of the San Fernando Valley generally making a nusance of myself when her phone rang and she had it switched to speaker.
It was a very interesting call, and because of it she filled me in a bit on the state of the division and exactly where they are aimed, as of now, for the future. She said they really are concentrating on wacky, edgy, comedy oriented vehicles right now, with (her words) "about 12 Looney Toons" ideas or projects in development now. (wanting to capitilize on another Space Jam or something to that effect).
She also expounded on the Farrelly Bros. involvement as directors and producers on Osmosis Jones, and stated that they are hoping that it will have some semblance of a "Something About Mary" sensibility to it (Her words again). She further said they would love to find some wacky, crazy episodic television ("to like replace the Wakko Bros. with"). What was interesting were her comments that after Osmosis Jones and this proposed Looney Toons thing, that she really has "no idea" where they are going or what they are going to do.
It was at this point, (sitting as I was atop her Emmy for Batman) that I heard the party on the other end of the line ask her point blank, how come Warners isn't pursuing like crazy Paul Dini and Bruce Timm to do a DC character feature? Like Justice League, Green Lantern, or the like, as the fanboys have been craving? She replied, with a smirk, that indeed they are working up a few things and have started meeting over on the lot with the higher powers that be! Further she told the mysterious caller that Bruce ( her words yet again) "is most probably burned out on Batman" at this point, so count that out. This is, of course, in contrast to what I have heard buzzing around the dynamic duo's quarters.
Anyhow thought that this might be a bit of
interesting news for you... All blessings,
Seth
