MADAGASCAR spin-off to be helmed by BEE MOVIE's Simon Smith

DreamWorks Animation has tapped Bee Movie diector Simon Smith, to direct the untitled Madagascar spin-off starring the penguins. THR also reports that Lara Breay (Megamind) has come on board to produce. The project was put on the fast-track in March when Alan J. Schoolcraft and Brent Simons, were hired to write the script  focusing on "the paramilitary parables of plucky penguins Skipper, Kowalski, Private and Rico."

The project is still in the early stages, so no one has been cast yet. Smith got his start as a DWA animator who rose through the ranks. He served as Head of Layout on Antz and Shrek, and a layout consultant on Shrek 2 before directing Shrek 4-D for Universal Studios theme park. He also directed two video shorts that were DVD extras on DWA releases: the Shrek-themed short Far Far Away Idol and Megamind: The Button of Doom.

The penguins are the main aspeci I enjoyed about the Madagascar films so I can see a spin-off like this working. Smith sure knows how to handle this type of material. What are your thoughts on this news?