Shane Acker to Direct film based on the Toy THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE

9 director Shane Acker has landed a new directing gig in which he will develop a big screen live-action adaptation of the kid franchise Thomas the Tank Engine. The script for the film was written by Chris Viscardi, Will McRobb, and Josh Klausner (Shrek the Third). Peter Jackson's Weta Workshop and Mattel's entertainment design team teamed up and joined the films creative team. I liked Acker's CG animated film 9, and the new film has a great special effects team behind it. This should end up being an interesting film for kids, the story of which is set on the island of talking trains, Sodor, where Thomas the train is a main character.

Thomas the Tank Engine has been around for 65 years, and I can't say I've even been a big fan of the kids property, not even when I was growing up. I was more interested in Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk, cute colorful trains just didn't interest me. 

I'm actually kind of surprised Acker took on the project, this is a story for Pre-schoolers, it seems like the kind of movie should go strait to DVD. But, Acker wants to expand the movie's audience beyond pre-schoolers. Here's what the director had to say in a statement in which he explains his intention with the film, and what the story will be about,

I'm a recent father, with a 20-month old daughter. We lead such busy lives in Hollywood, always running and hustling, but children tend to slow you down a bit and reconnect you with that inner world. It reinvents your imagination, seeing things through a child's eyes It was transformative  for me and that is what inspired me about the possibilities here. The tale will revolve around a pre-teen boy who has drifted apart from his father. The son is introduced into this world of Sodor, a place his father visited as a child but can't remember. There is a bonding experience.

After reading that, what are you're thoughts on Acker directing Thomas the Tank Engine?