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The Simpsons Movie

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Template:Future film

The Simpsons Movie
File:Simpsons movie new logo.png
The Simpsons Movie logo.
Directed byDavid Silverman
Written byMatt Groening
James L. Brooks
Al Jean
Mike Scully
Ian Maxtone-Graham
George Meyer
David Mirkin
Mike Reiss
Matt Selman
John Swartzwelder
Jon Vitti
Produced byJames L. Brooks
Matt Groening
Al Jean
Mike Scully
Richard Sakai
StarringDan Castellaneta
Julie Kavner
Nancy Cartwright
Yeardley Smith
Hank Azaria
Harry Shearer
Pamela Hayden
Tress MacNeille
Music byHans Zimmer
David A. Stewart (songs)
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release dates
July 27, 2007
LanguageEnglish

The Simpsons Movie is an upcoming animated film based on the primetime long running animated sitcom The Simpsons. It is being produced by Gracie Films for 20th Century Fox with animation produced by Film Roman and Rough Draft Studios and is scheduled to be released "worldwide" on July 27, 2007. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, Al Jean, Mike Scully, and Richard Sakai are the producers and it is written by eleven of the television series' most prolific writers.

Plot

There will be new characters introduced in the movie. It has been stated that Albert Brooks is scheduled to provide a guest voice for an all-new character in the movie, and may reprise some of his past characters (Brad Goodman, Jacques, Hank Scorpio, Cowboy Bob and Tab Spangler). Also, Minnie Driver and Erin Brockovich (the real-life activist) are confirmed to have parts.

Kelsey Grammer has said that his character, Sideshow Bob, will make an appearance in the movie[1], although he may not be a main character.

On July 13, Joe Mantegna confirmed on The Late Late Show that his character, Fat Tony, will make an appearance in the movie.

Marcia Wallace has confirmed that her character, Edna Krabappel, has a part in the movie.

If, as is likely, the film has a PG-13 rating, it would be able to contain language that would not usually be acceptable on broadcast television.[2]

Indefinite

Having Brockovich play a part in the film could mean that the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, with its appalling safety record, will play a strong part in the plot.

We're going to put some fake plots out there, just to make it interesting.

James L. Brooks[3]

The whole range of 'notable' Simpsons actors and characters are expected to be used.[2]

In April 2006, Ain't It Cool News reported this "scoop": "In the movie Homer causes an accident at the nuclear power plant - which causes the town’s drinking water to be spoiled. Therefore, Erin Brockovich is guest starring - playing herself. After the incident, Homer gets fired from the plant, and majority of Springfield's citizens move away."[4] However, it was reported by a speculative source, so it may not actually turn out to be the plot at all.

Animatic

In July 2006, two clips of early, unfinished footage from the movie were shown to audiences during a Simpsons panel at Comic-Con 2006.[5] The clips are black and white animatics, presented in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Additionally, a new logo for the movie debuted at Comic-Con.

First clip

The first clip [6] shows an angry mob of

Springfieldians: (chanting) "We want Homer! We want Homer!"
Lenny: So, uh, who we gonna kill again?
Moe: Uh, I think the people in the front know.
File:Simpsons movie animatic.png
Homer fights off the Sea Captain.

And heading for the Simpsons' house, where Marge and Homer are hiding, looking out through a bedroom window.

Marge: Look what you've done to us! Our only hope is for you to face that mob and apologize for what you did.
Homer: I would, but I'm afraid if I open the door they'll take all of you!
Carl: (off screen) No, we won't. We just want Homer!
Homer: Well maybe not you, but they'll kill Grampa!
Grampa: (off screen) I'm part of the mob!

The angry mob brings a ladder up and climbs up to the bedroom.

Lisa: Ladders! They've got ladders!

The mob breaks the window and people start climbing up one by one as Homer throws items at them as he shouts out puns.

Homer: (throwing a lamp at the Sea Captain) Lights out! (throwing a camera at the Blue Haired Lawyer) Say cheese! (throwing a doily at Dr. Hibbert) And uh... hello doily!
Dr. Hibbert: I'll kill you, you son of a bitch!

Homer screams and runs as the crowd starts coming in through the window. Downstairs, the mob breaks through the front door and runs into the house, breaking everything in their way.

Krusty: Teeny! Take out the baby.

Maggie smashes her bottle, points it at Mr. Teeny as a weapon and they make karate gestures at each other.

Second clip

The second clip [6] begins with a voice over:

Homer: "Hi I'm Homer Simpson, and don't tell Fox, but here's an unfinished scene from The Simpsons Movie. It's a work in progress so I don't want anyone asking stupid questions like 'Hey, what happened to the color?'".
File:Simpsons movie animatic 2.png
Homer is attacked by his sleigh dogs.

As Homer says this, the movie logo on screen fades to black and white and he yells "Hey, what happened to the color?!"
In the first scene, Homer is in an arctic location on a dogsled, whipping the dogs and repeatedly yelling "Run!" at them. In the next scene, the dogs are sleeping and Homer continues to whip them, now yelling "Rest!" The dogs are then seen running again.

Homer: "Okay. That's enough whipping for now... with this arm!"

He proceeds to whip them with his other arm. Night falls, they stop to rest, and Homer begins to untie them.

Homer:"Now I know we've had a rough day, but I'm sure we can put all that behind us and just..."

The dogs viciously attack Homer as he screams and yells "Ow, that's my whipping arm!" and then run away.

Homer:"Why does everything I whip leave me?"

This clip is shown as a special feature on the X-Men: The Last Stand DVD, except the clip ends after the dogs run away and Homer does not say the final line.

Teaser trailer

File:Simpsons teaser trailer.png
Homer sitting on his couch in the teaser trailer that debuted on March 31, 2006

A teaser trailer for the film[7] was attached to the Fox movie, Ice Age: The Meltdown and could be seen in most theaters in the U.S. starting on March 31, 2006; this same trailer (cropped for television) was broadcast during the April 2 episode of The Simpsons, Million Dollar Abie. [8]

The teaser begins with the camera panning closely over the Superman "S" insignia, while a voice-over actor dramatically announces "In 2007, leaping his way onto the silver screen, the greatest hero in American history." This is meant to give the impression of the trailer being for Superman Returns, one of the high-profile releases of the summer of 2006.

The shot then zooms out to show Homer, wearing only a tiny Superman t-shirt and briefs, sitting on his couch. He blinks and timidly states, "I forgot what I'm supposed to say!"

The words "The Simpsons" appear, followed a moment later by the word "Movie" in large letters, as simultaneously the announcer says "The Simpsons Movie Opening worldwide, July 27, 2007." Homer is heard in the background, saying "Uh oh, we'd better get started!"

It then displays the release date, while Mr. Burns says "excellent" in the background.

The trailer was later shown alongside Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties in cinemas and is available for download in full quality surround sound HD from Xbox Live Marketplace to an Xbox 360.

A new trailer is also going to be shown on November 12, along side the episode "G.I. (Annoyed Grunt)." There will also be a sneak peek of the movie available on the Complete Ninth Season DVD set, slated for release on December 19. [citation needed]

History

The people behind The Simpsons had entertained the thought of a movie since early in the series, but things never came together. Rumors of a movie have been circulating for just as long. The episode "Kamp Krusty" was originally going to be a movie, but difficulties were encountered in writing a script the length of a normal movie, at which point the movie plans were dropped in favor of a season premiere.

Before his death, Phil Hartman had always wanted to do a live action Troy McClure movie. Several of the show's writers mentioned in DVD commentaries that they would have loved to do it.

News website Corona posted an April Fool's Day hoax describing fictional plans for a live action movie in 2000.[9]

In 2004, rumors of a movie development resumed, with sources claiming that it would premiere on July 27 2007; this was confirmed by 20th Century Fox on June 6, 2005. Matt Groening revealed that they had been offered the chance to make a live-action version, but turned it down as it would have likely ruined the franchise and angered fans.

In the Treehouse of Horror XVII, one of Al Jean joke names was Al "July 27 2007" Jean, in reference to the release date of the movie

The writers of the show have been working on the current script since 2001.[2]

Technical specifications

The film will be colored digitally and presented in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio (the equivalent of anamorphic widescreen film). Such a wide aspect ratio is somewhat more difficult for traditional animation, especially in long horizontal camera pans, as it requires wider backgrounds to be drawn. However, this format gives the animation a very "cinematic" feel and sets it apart from the 4:3 full frame format of the television series.

Confirmed cast

Regular TV cast

NOTE: This list only includes characters who are confirmed to have speaking parts in the movie.

Guests

Crew

  • "We're very excited about the performances in this movie. Come next Oscars, we think it's going to be Milhouse's night" - Matt Groening[10]
  • "Since 2001 we'd been working to get a script that would be worthy of people actually paying to see the Simpsons" - Matt Groening[2]
  • "We've been running a little behind schedule- But only by about 15 years or so." - Matt Groening[2]
  • "If I were feeling any more pressure, I'd be a diamond" - Al Jean[2]
  • "We're going to put some fake plots out there just to make it interesting." - James L. Brooks[3]
  • "The idea of the movie is that all of us who ran the show at one point and who have been there from the beginning come together as the writing team for this movie. That's the idea of it." - James L. Brooks[3]
  • "That trailer is running on 7,000 screens this weekend, committing us to opening every place in the world on the same date, which means, we'd better get started." - James L. Brooks[11]
  • "We've taken script security to the point of lunacy, though it helped that we wrote it in Aramaic" - Mike Scully[11]
  • "This was enormously challenging, because it involved filling 120 blank pages with an actual story and words people say." - James L. Brooks[10]
  • "I can absolutely guarantee that this film will far exceed the wildest expectations of every Simpsons fan. Start lining up at the theater now, preferably in costume." - Al Jean[10]
  • "The movie is a result of the very singular vision of eleven people." - Mike Scully[10]
  • "It’s been rough. We worked at it for a long time and then found out that Snakes on a Plane was doing the same story." - James L. Brooks[10]

Notes

  1. ^ Interview: Kelsey Grammer On the Beast PLUS Sideshow Bob Is In The Simpsons Movie! at IESB.net, May 12, 2006
  2. ^ a b c d e f Bowles, Scott (2006-04-02). "Mmmm, popcorn: A 'Simpsons' film in '07". USA Today. Retrieved 2006-04-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b c As Good As He Gets at filmmonthly.com, December 13, 2004
  4. ^ "More SIMPSONS MOVIE Plot Points ("Springfield Dome" Clarified)!!". Ain't It Cool News. 2006-04-05. Retrieved 2006-04-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Ball, Ryan (2006-07-24). "Simpsons Movie Peeks at Comic-Con". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2006-07-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b The Simpsons Movie Preview Animatics Clip 1 Clip 2 at YouTube
  7. ^ "Apple - Trailers - The Simpsons Movie - Teaser". Apple Computer.
  8. ^ Crabtree, Sheigh (2006-04-01). "'Simpsons' movie revealed in trailer". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2006-04-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ The Simpsons Movie at Corona.bc.ca, April 1, 2000
  10. ^ a b c d e Weinberg, Scott (2006-04-04). "Fox Issues Official Word on "The Simpsons Movie"". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2006-04-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference var was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

See also

Wikinews has related news:
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