Considering the Walt Disney Company owns, well, everything these days, calling one of their films "underrated" seems a little silly. And yet, if you ask me, "Sky High" is undoubtedly the leader of the underrated live-action Disney roster. Just before Disney became the parent company of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the studio put out a family-friendly coming-of-age superhero comedy that, as /Film's Rafael Motamayor once described, "poked fun at expanded universes, superhero legacies, and every trope in the book." The story centered on teenager Will Stronghold (Michael Angarano), the son of famed superheroes Steve Stronghold/The Commander (Kurt Russell) and Josie DeMarco-Stronghold/Jetstream (Kelly Preston). He's poised to be the next great hero after he starts training at Sky High — a super-secret floating school for superheroes and sidekicks — but Will doesn't have any powers.
As superhero films exploded in popularity in the years that followed, there's been a reassessment of...
As superhero films exploded in popularity in the years that followed, there's been a reassessment of...
- 4/14/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
When he was in fifth grade, Aaron Clark used to lie in bed at night, bouncing a tennis ball against the ceiling and planning his escape from the rats and roaches, gang shootings and stomach-knotting stress of life in the housing projects of Oakland, Calif. "I made a promise to myself," says Clark, now 24. "If I can get to college, I'll take care of people here in the projects. I'll remember kids like me. And I'm going to pull them up." He's a man of his word. After becoming the first male in his family to gradate from college (the University of California,...
- 6/14/2012
- by Ken Lee
- PEOPLE.com
Source: FilmShaft - Instant Karma Gets Picked Up By Sony Pictures Animation
Having been in development for almost a decade and bandied about between several production companies, you could be forgiven for thinking Instant Karma would quite simply never get made.
Back in 2003 New Line Cinema looked set to produce the film, they had even assembled a voice cast that included Dwayne Johnson, Pierce Brosnan, and Gene Wilder. However, it didn’t materialise and, eight years on, Sony Pictures Animation have now brought the project back to life.
'Sky High' co-writer Paul Hernandez originally wrote the script (and he must have been close to running out of patience) and he is currently attached to direct this fantasy comedy that has been labelled as a hybrid of live-action and CGI. The plot centres on a safe cracker from New Orleans who, after suffering a near-death experience finds himself reincarnated as a fly.
Having been in development for almost a decade and bandied about between several production companies, you could be forgiven for thinking Instant Karma would quite simply never get made.
Back in 2003 New Line Cinema looked set to produce the film, they had even assembled a voice cast that included Dwayne Johnson, Pierce Brosnan, and Gene Wilder. However, it didn’t materialise and, eight years on, Sony Pictures Animation have now brought the project back to life.
'Sky High' co-writer Paul Hernandez originally wrote the script (and he must have been close to running out of patience) and he is currently attached to direct this fantasy comedy that has been labelled as a hybrid of live-action and CGI. The plot centres on a safe cracker from New Orleans who, after suffering a near-death experience finds himself reincarnated as a fly.
- 4/28/2011
- by Robert Butcher
- FilmShaft.com
After being in development for almost a decade, Instant Karma is finally on its way to seeing the light of day. The project has just about run the gamut of movie studios, starting off at DreamWorks Pictures before moving on to Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment, and then eventually landing at New Line Cinema in 2003. They came very close to getting the film together, even going as far as to line up a voice cast that included Dwayne Johnson, Pierce Brosnan, Gene Wilder, Mira Sorvino and Eartha Kitt, among others. But the project kept getting picked up out of turnaround, and has now been acquired by Sony Pictures Animation. So what is this mystery project that keeps generating interest among studios but can't seem to find a steady home? The plot of the film, as detailed by The Hollywood Reporter [1], centers on a safecracker in New Orleans who finds himself...
- 4/28/2011
- by Adam Quigley
- Slash Film
Sony Pictures Animation has picked up the rights to "Sky High" writer Paul Hernandez's comedy fantasy script "Instant Karma" reports Variety.
Hernandez will direct the live-action/CGI hybrid which follows a misguided safecracker from New Orleans who finds himself reincarnated as a fly.
Doing good deeds to improve his karma, he moves up the food chain through a variety of animals including a frog, a raccoon and a dog as he tries to get back to his human body and the woman he loves.
The project has gone through numerous other variations at Universal, Dreamworks and New Line where Sony picked it up after it was put into turnaround. Dwayne Johnson, Pierce Brosnan and Gene Wilder had been attached to the voice cast of previous versions.
Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio are producing.
Hernandez will direct the live-action/CGI hybrid which follows a misguided safecracker from New Orleans who finds himself reincarnated as a fly.
Doing good deeds to improve his karma, he moves up the food chain through a variety of animals including a frog, a raccoon and a dog as he tries to get back to his human body and the woman he loves.
The project has gone through numerous other variations at Universal, Dreamworks and New Line where Sony picked it up after it was put into turnaround. Dwayne Johnson, Pierce Brosnan and Gene Wilder had been attached to the voice cast of previous versions.
Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio are producing.
- 4/28/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Apparently Sony has found themselves a bit of cash, and are looking to spend it.
First up, Deadline is reporting that the studio’s animation branch, Sony Animation, has nabbed up the live action/CGI hybrid project, Instant Karma. Previously a New Line property, the film is written and will be directed by Paul Hernandez, and will follow a safecracker who “survives a near-death experience only to find himself reincarnated as a fly. He needs to perform good deeds to up his karma rating, and when he does, he moves up the flood chain by becoming such animals as a frog, raccoon and dog. His goal is to redeem himself enough to reclaim his human body and the woman he loves.”
Read more on Acquisitions: Sony picks up Instant Karma and royal wedding pitch from (500) Days Of Summer writers...
First up, Deadline is reporting that the studio’s animation branch, Sony Animation, has nabbed up the live action/CGI hybrid project, Instant Karma. Previously a New Line property, the film is written and will be directed by Paul Hernandez, and will follow a safecracker who “survives a near-death experience only to find himself reincarnated as a fly. He needs to perform good deeds to up his karma rating, and when he does, he moves up the flood chain by becoming such animals as a frog, raccoon and dog. His goal is to redeem himself enough to reclaim his human body and the woman he loves.”
Read more on Acquisitions: Sony picks up Instant Karma and royal wedding pitch from (500) Days Of Summer writers...
- 4/27/2011
- by Joshua Brunsting
- GordonandtheWhale
Sony Pictures Animation aims to finally get Instant Karma on the big screen, according to THR.
The movie has been in development for almost a decade. The script comes from screenwriter Paul Hernandez, who will also direct, and follows the story of a thief who is reincarnated as a fly.
He goes on a journey to get back the woman he loves and on that journey his soul is reborn many times as different animal -- each one more complex based on the good Karma he has accumulated. He is trying to get back to his human body in order to win the woman back.
It's been going around to different studios for a while now, but Sony Pictures Animation aims to get the film onto the big screen soon. It will be a mix of CGI and live action. ...
The movie has been in development for almost a decade. The script comes from screenwriter Paul Hernandez, who will also direct, and follows the story of a thief who is reincarnated as a fly.
He goes on a journey to get back the woman he loves and on that journey his soul is reborn many times as different animal -- each one more complex based on the good Karma he has accumulated. He is trying to get back to his human body in order to win the woman back.
It's been going around to different studios for a while now, but Sony Pictures Animation aims to get the film onto the big screen soon. It will be a mix of CGI and live action. ...
- 4/27/2011
- by alyssa@mediavine.com (Alyssa Caverley)
- Reel Movie News
Sony Pictures Animation has acquired the rights to a live-action/CGI hybrid called Instant Karma. Paul Hernandez wrote the script for the comedy fantasy film and is set to direct. While this sounds like a sweet deal for Sony, the project has been gestating since 2003. Sony nabbed the project out of turnaround from New Line. Karma was first set up at DreamWorks before moving over to Universal and Imagine. It was close to going into production when at New Line. Dwayne Johnson, Pierce Brosnan, Mira Sorvino, Eartha Kitt and Gene Wilder, among others in the voice cast.
You'd think that by now the film would have lost it's steam, but no. What has attracted execs to the project is it's story. The film follows "a misguided safecracker from New Orleans through his life lessons from a near-death experience only to find himself reincarnated as a fly. As the hero does...
You'd think that by now the film would have lost it's steam, but no. What has attracted execs to the project is it's story. The film follows "a misguided safecracker from New Orleans through his life lessons from a near-death experience only to find himself reincarnated as a fly. As the hero does...
- 4/27/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
Sony Animation has picked up Instant Karma, a live action/CGI project previously at New Line. Paul Hernandez wrote the script and will direct. The plot: a misguided safecracker from New Orleans survives a near-death experience only to find himself reincarnated as a fly. He needs to perform good deeds to up his karma rating, and when he does, he moves up the flood chain by becoming such animals as a frog, raccoon and dog. His goal is to redeem himself enough to reclaim his human body and the woman he loves. Shrek and Pirates of the Caribbean scribe Terry Rossio has boarded the project as producer.
- 4/27/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Paul Hernandez’s live-action/CGI fantasy Instant Karma found new life at Sony Pictures Animation, which recently picked up rights to the film after languishing in turnaround at New Line. Hernandez (Sky High) wrote the film, about the life of a New Orleans safecracker who’s reincarnated as a fly. He does good deeds to boost his karma and comes back as a variety of animals with the hope of regaining his human form. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hernandez lined up Dwayne Johnson, Pierce Brosnan, Mira Sorvino and Gene Wilder for his voice cast before production stalled.
- 4/27/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Paul Hernandez’s live-action/CGI fantasy Instant Karma found new life at Sony Pictures Animation, which recently picked up rights to the film after languishing in turnaround at New Line. Hernandez (Sky High) wrote the film, about the life of a New Orleans safecracker who’s reincarnated as a fly. He does good deeds to boost his karma and comes back as a variety of animals with the hope of regaining his human form. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hernandez lined up Dwayne Johnson, Pierce Brosnan, Mira Sorvino and Gene Wilder for his voice cast before production stalled.
- 4/27/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Paul Hernandez’s live-action/CGI fantasy Instant Karma found new life at Sony Pictures Animation, which recently picked up rights to the film after languishing in turnaround at New Line. Hernandez (Sky High) wrote the film, about the life of a New Orleans safecracker who’s reincarnated as a fly. He does good deeds to boost his karma and comes back as a variety of animals with the hope of regaining his human form. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hernandez lined up Dwayne Johnson, Pierce Brosnan, Mira Sorvino and Gene Wilder for his voice cast before production stalled.
- 4/27/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Paul Hernandez’s live-action/CGI fantasy Instant Karma found new life at Sony Pictures Animation, which recently picked up rights to the film after languishing in turnaround at New Line. Hernandez (Sky High) wrote the film, about the life of a New Orleans safecracker who’s reincarnated as a fly. He does good deeds to boost his karma and comes back as a variety of animals with the hope of regaining his human form. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hernandez lined up Dwayne Johnson, Pierce Brosnan, Mira Sorvino and Gene Wilder for his voice cast before production stalled.
- 4/27/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Sony Pictures Animation has revived Instant Karma , according to a story at The Hollywood Reporter . Nearly a decade in development, the high-concept script comes from Sky High screenwriter Paul Hernandez and deals with a thief who, after dying, becomes reincarnated as a fly. On a quest to get back to the woman he loves, the man's soul is reborn again and again as different animals, more complex each time based on the Karma he's accumulated. Though it's been bouncing around studios over the years, Sony Pictures Animation aims to finally get Instant Karma to the big screen as a mix of CGI and live action with Hernandez himself directing.
- 4/27/2011
- Comingsoon.net
Anonymous Content has tapped Shawn Hopkins, Brian Medavoy and Lainie Stolhanske to join its management ranks. Hopkins joins the management division with a roster of lit clients that includes Burr Steers (Igby Goes Down), Scott Kosar (The Machinist), Laura Cahill (Hysterical Blindness), Tyger Williams (Menace II Society), Leigh Dunlap (A Cinderella Story), Paul Hernandez (Instant Karma), Peter Himmelstein (Lost Boys), Joel Hershman (Greenfingers), Philip Boston (Billabong Odyssey), Greg Pritikin (Dummy) and Joby Harold (Awake). She joins Anonymous from Catch 23 Entertainment. Before that, she spent two years with Rick and Julie Yorn and Artist Management Group. She started her career at ICM.
- 11/12/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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