Those cute 1980's era cartoon characters The Smurfs are to make a big screen comeback after Sony and Columbia snapped up the film rights to the former TV series.
Thanks to advances in technology the new smurfs will appear in a hybrid live action/animated film in which Papa Smurf, Smurfette and the rest of the blue-hued crew will be computer-rendered in the flick.
Created by Pierre Culliford, aka Peyo, in 1958, Les Schtroumpfs began as minor comic-book characters before gaining fame in NBC's Emmy-winning Smurfs cartoon, which ran from 1981-90.
Davids Stem and Weiss, the family-friendly scribes behind Shreks 2 and 3, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and The Rugrats Movie, are in talks to write.
"The Smurfs are one of the best-known franchises, and among the most beloved collection of characters in the world," said Columbia co-president Doug Belrad in announcing the movie plans.
"We're very excited to introduce a new generation to Papa Smurf, Smurfette and the other smurftastic Smurfs in all their glory."
