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Wednesday
27Aug2008

Steven Spielberg Still Directing 'Tintin'

DateWednesday, August 27, 2008 at 12:04AM
How could information on a project of this scope be so imprecise? Earlier this week, a representative from Herge Studios, the Belgian company that owns the copyright for Tintin, indicated that Peter Jackson would be directing the film version of the beloved cartoon. That news didn't jive with the long-held belief that Steven Spielberg, another of the film's producers, would be sitting in the directors chair.

Jackson, it had been reported, would only direct sequels.

Now, spokespeople for both Jackson and Spielberg have said that it is, in fact, Spielberg who will be in charge of Tintin, proving once and for all that Belgians simply can't be trusted. OK, maybe "prove" is too substantial a word...

Anyway, wouldn't you think Herge would get its facts straight for what is clearly going to be the single biggest property it has ever developed? A film version of the classic comic book series, which was launched in 1929, has been a topic of some discussion for years (Spielberg has eyed it for nearly his whole career), but it took a combination of arguably the world's two most powerful filmmakers to make it happen.

The performance capture adaptation will star the prodigious Thomas Sangster and Andy Serkis, who's no slouch himself. Production on Tintin will begin in the fall as previously announced, and we can say with certainty that - also as previously announced - Steven Spielberg will direct the film.

AuthorColin Boyd | | in , , , | Print ArticlePrint Article | | Comment3 Comments |

Reader Comments (3)

Well, I'm not sure if its a good thing. Steven Spielberg has proven himself at his best when he's directing films for grown-ups. It will be impossible not to aim at the kids' market with Tintin and I think its gonna stink.

Jackson would have been a better choice, even if I'm not too fond of his style either.

Actually, I believe that a fracophone director would have been the best because Tintin really makes a lot more sense within a french cultural setting.

But I guess they wouldn't trust a frenchman with all that money.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterLengthy Johnson

I loved these books as a child. Who will play Tin Tin, I wonder? I'm thinking Freddie Highmore.

I also keep thinking George Clooney for Captain Haddock.

Thursday, August 28, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterWill

Tintin will be a animated motion capture film, like Beowulf. Well, probably not exactly like Beowulf.

Andy Serkis will play Captain Haddock, or at least do his voice and movements.

The Tintin books are actually a good read even for grown-ups. Especially Haddock grows as a character for grown-up readers. When you are a kid, you don't know much about alcoholism and tourette's.

Friday, August 29, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterLentghy Johnson

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