Almost exactly a year ago, we got word that the classic character Astro Boy was going to star in his own live-action feature with Australia’s Animal Logic Entertainment (The LEGO Movie) partnering with Japan’s Tezuka Productions. Now, Heat Vision is reporting that New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Bros., is picking up the property with San Andreas writers Andre Fabrizio and Jeremy Passmore set to pen the screenplay.
Created by Osamu Tezuka in 1952, Astro Boy tells the story of a young robot built by a scientist to replace his recently deceased son. After being abandoned Astro is raised by another scientist where he’s given upgrades that allow him to fight crime. Several TV shows based on the character have been made and an animated feature was released in 2009 featuring the voices of Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell, and Nicolas Cage. That film only earned $39.9 million worldwide on a $65 million budget. The new feature is said to avoid the family trappings of the 2009 film with an eye more towards a four-quadrant blockbuster.
Zareh Nalbandian from Animal Logic will produce along with Jason Lust as executive producer. Mike Callaghan and Reuben Liber from Ranger 7 Films will also executive produce. No director is currently attached.
