What is the worst present you could ever give to a child on his birthday? How about a cardboard box? That’s pretty lame under normal circumstances, but in the graphic novel called Cardboard, the extraordinary happens. What’s even more interesting is the fact that this piece, written by Doug TenNapel, is about to get the big screen treatment, thanks to Fox Animation, WedgeWorks, and star, Tobey Maguire.
You see, Maguire owns Material Pictures, the company all set to executive produce the film adaptation of the graphic novel. Cardboard will be an animated feature.
After the down on his luck dad, a widower, to boot, offers the box to his son in the story, they decide to fold it up into the figure of a boxer named Bill. To their surprise, Bill comes to life. But the local bully, Marcus, has his own wicked plans for Bill. If the film follows the novel closely, other cardboard creatures will come to life as well, threatening everyone in town.
The graphic novel is published by Scholastic Graphix. WedgeWorks’ own, Chris Wedge whose credits include Ice Age, may choose to direct the upcoming film adaptation.
If handled right, this project could get pretty epic. Sounds like a rip-roaring good time to me. I can already picture my nephew begging for Cardboard action figures.
Since Maguire is already affiliated with the film, we may expect him to lend his voice to one of the main characters. This wouldn’t be the first time. His pipes were featured in the WB’s Cats & Dogs. He was Lou the Beagle, for your information.
It’s good to see Tobey Maguire in the news. I haven’t really seen his face since the drama Brothers, where he acted a prickly part opposite Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal. If you haven’t seen it yet, the acting is well worth a watch, but there are scenes that will make you squirm, thus earning it’s R-rating.
Maguire has a few other projects on the burner. I simply cannot wait for the 2013 debut of Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gastsby. The best known film adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic novel, starred Robert Redford as Gatsby; Mia Farrow as his wealthy love interest, Daisy; Sam Waterston as the narrator, Nick Carrway; and Bruce Dern as Tom, Daisy’s husband. In the 2013 version; however, it is Tobey Maguire who plays Nick; Leonardo DiCaprio will be Gatsby; Carey Mulligan is Daisy; and Joel Edgerton is Tom.
If you know Baz Lurhman’s work, you know the film will be epic and larger than life. He’s actually going to present the film in 3D.
Maguire is also slated to act as real life persona, Bobby Fisher in the upcoming biographical picture titled Pawn Sacrifice. Maguire’s own Material Pictures will produce this project as well.
As for author, TenNapel, he has a whole slew of other titles to his name and best of all a few others are scheduled for big screen adaptations, too! His Ghostopolis is currently in the hands of Disney, and his Monster Zoo was snatched by Paramount.
