More details on Arthur
Madonna will head the voice cast of the big-budget CGI-animated “Arthur,” directed by Luc Besson, which the director’s Europa Corp. also is producing, sources close to the movie confirmed Thursday.
CAA, which represents Madonna, separately confirmed the deal Thursday .
“Arthur” is adapted from a series of children’s books written by Besson, who also wrote the screenplay for the movie. Ten-year-old Arthur, in a bid to save his grandfather’s house from developers, goes in search of treasure hidden in the land of the Minimoys, a tiny people living in harmony with nature.
The film, scheduled for a 2006 release, will include some live-action sequences. The 3-D animation is being crafted by French specialist Buf Compagnie.
Madonna is understood to be voicing the part of Princess Selenia, a character who travels with Arthur to a mysterious forbidden city where an evil being dwells. “The recording is being done at the moment,” a production source said. Europa also is in the process of casting a major male star in the movie but could not give details at press time.
The English-language movie, which is in production at Europa’s studios north of Paris, is budgeted at ?65 million ($80 million), making it one of the most expensive films ever to qualify as French under the country’s subsidy system. It also is by far the most ambitious project tackled by Europa, whose movies until now have rarely topped $20 million.
Europa is financing “Arthur” through its own funds, Gallic subsidies and international presales, with one top-flight U.S. distributor said to be circling the project. Europa is handling international sales on the title. French network TF1 and pay channel Canal Plus have already prebought the film for a total of ?7 million ($9 million).
“Arthur” will be the first film directed by Besson since “The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc” five years ago. Besson also is working on a parallel live-action project, which he has written but which remains a closely guarded secret.
Europa is producing the heist picture “Revolver,” starring Jason Statham and Ray Liotta and directed by Guy Ritchie, Madonna’s husband.
The company also is shooting the $40 million “Bandidas” in Mexico, starring Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek, co-financed by 20th Century Fox, which is releasing the movie in America.
Source: Hollywood Reporter