Disney Teams Up With Acclaimed Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro to Create Animated Features With Chills and Thrills Under the New La
September 11 2009 - 2:30PM
PR Newswire (US)
ANAHEIM, Calif., Sept. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Walt Disney
Studios, in collaboration with acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del
Toro ("Pan's Labyrinth," "The Hobbit"), is launching a new
production label called Disney Double Dare You (DDY), to create new
animated films full of chills and thrills for audiences of all
ages, it was announced today at the D23 Expo by Dick Cook, chairman
of The Walt Disney Studios. All films will be produced under the
guidance of del Toro, who originated the concept and the design of
DDY and who will also direct certain projects. The first project in
development for the new label is called "Trollhunters," an original
del Toro story which he will produce. Commenting on the
announcement, Cook said, "Guillermo is a brilliant and visionary
filmmaker, and we're excited to be launching this new label with
him. His knowledge and appreciation for Disney films, along with
his penchant for creating worlds of fantasy, presented a great
opportunity for us to explore a whole new genre of filmmaking for
moviegoers of all ages. We have admired Guillermo's imaginative
approach to filmmaking for some time, and now we're proud to be
working with him to create films full of imaginative delights and
lots of thrills at the same time." Del Toro added, "As a director,
I love to take audiences into fantastic new worlds and provide them
with some anxious moments in the process. It is part of the Disney
canon to create thrilling, unforgettable moments and villains in
all their classic films. It is my privilege for DDY to continue in
this tradition. To partner up with The Walt Disney Studios, with
the support of Dick Cook and John Lasseter, is to belong to a
storytelling partnership that I admire deeply. It is a true honor.
I look forward to coming up with fresh and original stories that
will take Disney films in a whole new direction. The emphasis is on
fun, and we have some great ideas already on the storyboards." Del
Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth" received six Academy Award nominations in
2007, including one for his original screenplay, and went on to win
three awards. That film also received a BAFTA Award for Best Film
not in the English Language. His other directing credits include
"Hellboy," "Hellboy II: The Golden Army," "The Devil's Backbone,"
"Cronos," and "Mimic," among others. Del Toro is currently
directing back-to-back feature film adaptations of the Tolkien
classic, "The Hobbit," for release in 2011 and 2012. DATASOURCE:
Walt Disney Studios CONTACT: Heidi Trotta of The Walt Disney
Studios, +1-818-560-7280, ; or Gary Ungar, +1-310-573-1523, , of
Exile Entertainment for Guillermo del Toro
Copyright