As has become a habit, Guillermo del Toro is adding yet another project to his to-do list.
Del Toro is now set to produce Day of the Dead, a CGI-animated feature about a Romeo and Juliet-style love story set during the Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday tracing back to the Aztecs that celebrates those who we’ve lost. It’s also said that music will play an important part in the movie, and that numerous international A-list recording artists will be brought in to perform both original songs and covers of iconic songs for the soundtrack.
The movie will be directed by Jorge R. Gutierrez, who also wrote the screenplay with Doug Langdale. Gutierrez has never directed a feature (only a short titled Carmelo), but has worked as a producer, writer, character designer, and production designer on the Nickelodeon animated series El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, among some other things.
Langdale also wrote on El Tigre, and has worked on many other animated TV series such as Darkwing Duck, Earthworm Jim, The Weekenders, The Looney Tunes Show, and Kung-Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness.
Of the announcement, del Toro said:
I have admired Jorge’s work for a long time. He has a unique aesthetic and sense of humor. Day of the Dead offers a perfect opportunity for his sensibilities to shine.
This is a colorful, vibrant, vital fable that utilizes the animation medium in an incredible way. The object of the tale is not only to talk about life but to dazzle us – jolt us- into living to the fullest. To join Reel FX, Cary Granat and Jorge in this adventure is a privilege and a joy.
The movie will be the first time since 1993’s Cronos that del Toro is collaborating on a feature film set in his home country of Mexico.
The current aim is to have Day of the Dead released by fall of 2014.
[Source: Heat Vision]
Couldn’t he change the name? I’m bothered as a Romero fan.
Comment by Anonymous — February 23, 2012 @ 8:19 pm
That’s what the holiday is actually called though. Sure, I’d like for the title to be Dia de los Muertos”, but it’s fine. And technically, Romero’s film wasn’t the first to use the title.
Comment by Cal Hawks — February 24, 2012 @ 12:40 am
What was the first? And yes I’ve heard of the day of the dead lol
— Sent from my Samsung Vibrant with K-9 Mail.
Comment by Anonymous — February 24, 2012 @ 1:28 am
Well, the original was a documentary from the 50s, so I guess you could still say Romero’s is the first fictional film with the title.
But regardless, titles are reused all the time. I’m interested in seeing how this progresses :P
Comment by Cal Hawks — February 25, 2012 @ 1:45 am
Ok ok I’ll give it a chance. I’m still annoyed that the “remake” which wasn’t a remake at all, of Day of the Dead was so stupid.
They should do a true remake of Day of the Dead like they did with Dawn which I thought was surprisingly entertaining. — Sent from my Samsung Vibrant with K-9 Mail.
Comment by Anonymous — February 25, 2012 @ 1:55 am
Yeah, Dawn was good. :)
Comment by Cal Hawks — February 25, 2012 @ 3:36 pm