This news might just be too much to bear. Shawn Levy has decided to take on one of childhood's sacred cows -- uh, bears -- telling USA Today that he will produce a feature film based on 'The Berenstain Bears' series. The books by Jan and the late Stan Berenstain have been a staple for generations of kids; the anthropomorphic bears first appeared in 1962 in 'The Big Honey Hunt' and later transitioned to TV, DVDs and video games.
Levy, who says the project will be a mix of live-action and computer animation, wants the film to be a "warm-hearted comedy about family, and a different kind of family. I'd like the film to be un-ironic about its family connections but have a wry comedic sensibility that isn't oblivious to the fact that they're bears."
Walden Media, which produced the 'Chronicles of Narnia' films and has acquired the rights to the Bears, hopes the project will go into production next year for a 2011 release. No writers, actors or director have been picked.
According to USA Today, Levy compared his vision of the film to the tone of Will Ferrell's 'Elf,' which had a sweet, earnest hero who clashed with his cynical surroundings. "I think the movie will be witty but never sarcastic," he said.
Walden CEO Michael Bostick told USA Today he wanted to honor the "goodwill from generations of families" who have enjoyed the books, but compared the characters to other outcast families "like The Beverly Hillbillies or The Addams Family, who don't quite fit in but manage to survive."
Levy, director of the 'Night at the Museum films, certainly knows how to bring characters to life on the big screen. But some things should be left untouched. What do you think?
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