The latest victim to succumb to the new wave of 3-D is Brit funnyman Ricky Gervais as he will bring Flanimals to Universal’s animation house Illumination Entertainment. The film will be based on a children’s book series created by Gervais and he will voice the lead character with a script written by Matt Selman of “The Simpsons” fame.
The four-volume series encompasses a world inhabited by 50 species of creatures so ugly and misshapen they become cute and endearing. Gervais’ character, a pudgy, perspiring purple creature, goes on a mission to change the world.
There is no word on when production will get underway, but I have to assume we are looking at a 2011 release date as Universal is currently working on Despicable Me for a July 9, 2010 with a voice cast made up of Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Danny R. McBride, Will Arnett, Julie Andrews, Kristen Wiig, Jemaine Clement and Jack McBrayer.
As for Gervais he will returns as Dr. McPhee in Night at the Museum 2: Escape From the Smithsonian on May 22 and will follow that up on September 25 with The Invention of Lying, a comedy set in a world where lying doesn’t exist. Jennifer Garner co-stars.
