NIMH remake planned

Paramount is courting THE ILLUSIONIST director Neil Burger to write an updated take on the popular 1971 children’s book “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH“, which was previously animated in 1982 by MGM as THE SECRET OF NIMH. The book and film followed a mommy mouse whose attempt at moving her family away from a dangerous farmer lands her in the middle of a genetically-enhanced rats society. Not unlike a few of my previous jobs.

Say what you will of this weekend’s surprise Box-Office winner G-FORCE or the equally questionable ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS, their “success” only serves to prove one thing: rodents are marketable. No word yet on whether the project would be traditional or CG animation, but smart money would have it adapted for 3D cinemas. As pretty much everything out these days.

 Burger, who will counterbalance such a foray in family-oriented territory with the upcoming BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN redo for Universal, is also attached to DARK FIELDS based on Alan Glynn’s 2002 novel.