Sony Pictures Animation Picks Up Project From 'Finding Nemo' Co-Writer, 'Despicable Me' Storyboard Artist

Sony Pictures Animation has picked up an original project with the attached talent of Oscar-nominated writer David Reynolds, animation veteran Stephan Franck and the Gotham Group.

Reynolds, who co-wrote Finding Nemo, will write the script, based on an original story from Franck, the supervising animator on The Iron Giant, who will direct. Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Peter McHugh and Eric Robinson of the Gotham Group will exec produce as will Academy Award winner Karen Dufilho-Rosen, who produced Geri's Game and For The Birds for Pixar.

The film is the first in a four picture, first-look deal that Gotham signed with Sony Pictures Animation in 2009.

The plot is being kept under wraps.

Reynolds’ credits include a slew of Disney movies ranging from Tarzan to Chicken Little as well a range of Pixar movies including A Bug’s Life and Toy Story 2.
 
Franck was a storyboard artist on Despicable Me, and co-created the multi-award-winning international animated TV series Corneil and Bernie with his brother Emmanuel.

Alexa Amin, vice president of development for Sony Pictures Animation, is overseeing the production for the studio.