Walt Disney Pictures has picked up "Ruprecht," a broad comedy pitch about Santa Claus' former partner by "The Simpsons" writers/executive producers Josh Weinstein and Bill Oakley. Andrew Gunn is producing. The story recounts how, in Victorian times, Santa left presents for all the good children and Ruprecht was responsible for leaving switches and coal for the naughty ones. Ruprecht went away when the partnership soured, and kids eventually stopped getting coal. The story picks up in the present day when Ruprecht resurfaces, determined to balance out Christmas and today's naughty kids with some overdue lumps of coal, causing a battle that turns Christmas on its head. Ann Marie Sanderlin is executive producing. Brad Epstein is the Disney executive on the project. In addition to "The Simpsons," Oakley and Weinstein's writing credits include "Futurama" and "The Mullets." They also served as consulting producers on the former and exec producers on the latter. The writers are repped by CAA and attorney John Moonves.