Jared Hess Set to Direct NICKTOONS Crossover Movie for Nickelodeon Films
A few months ago it was announced that Nickelodeon Films and Paramount Pictures would be developing a live-action/animated crossover movie called Nicktoons. The film was originally pitched to the studio as “a Justice League or Avengers-esque team-up film,” but with classic characters from Nickelodeon's '90s cartoon series including Rugrats, Angry Beavers, Hey Arnold!, Rocko’s Modern Life, Doug, Ahh! Real Monsters, Ren and Stimpy, and more. The movie is sure to provide a nostalgia explosion for kids of the '90s.
According to Variety, the studio has hired Jared Hess to direct the film, which is a perfect choice. This is the guy who brought us films such as Napoleon Dynamite, Gentlemen Broncos, Nacho Libre, and more. He seems to have that strange, childlike wonder that we all enjoyed about these cartoon series, so I couldn't think of anyone better to take on the challenge of bringing them to life on the big screen.
Hess will co-write the script of the movie with his wife, Jarusha Hess. There are no plot details for the film, but it will have similarities to Who Framed Roger Rabbit? When the project was announced this is the information released:
"Naysayers ought not to fear, as our sources say that the creators have no intentions to bastardize or update the characters unfavorably, only to create a fun adventure reuniting audiences with the treasured cartoons in an exciting new approach, pleasing old fans and creating new ones. Though, creators have to tread lightly, as they run the risk of making another Rugrats Go Wild, which was an ill-received and poorly conceived crossover that just didn’t mesh."
I was excited about this when it was first announced, but after learning who's directing it, there's actually a chance that this will turn out to be a solid and entertaining flick. What do you all think about Hess taking on the challenge of making this film?