Officials at Disney decide to scrap the project, which is about a brotherhood of mice in a medieval world free of humans, just two weeks before production is supposed to start.
- Apr 19, 2019
AceShowbiz - Idris Elba and Andy Serkis' planned movie adaptation of graphic novel series "Mouse Guard" has been halted just two weeks before moving into production.
Director Wes Ball had been preparing to start shooting the live-action fantasy film, about a brotherhood of mice in a medieval world free of humans, but on Wednesday, April 17, Disney officials put the 21st Century Fox project on hold.
The move, which comes weeks after Disney bosses finalised their acquisition of its rival studio, now allows its producers, including "War for the Planet of the Apes" filmmaker Matt Reeves, to shop the movie to other buyers, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Ball was expected to make full use of motion-capture technology to bring the "Mouse Guard" characters to life onscreen, utilising the technique perfected by Serkis in the "Planet of the Apes" movies, as well as the "Lord of the Rings" film series and his Netflix release, "Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle".
Serkis had been cast as evil blacksmith Midnight, while former child star Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who worked with Ball on "The Maze Runner" franchise, was set to portray young "Mouse Guard" member Lieam, and Elba had been tapped for the part of Celanawe a former hero who becomes a recluse.
British comedian Jack Whitehall, who recently appeared in Disney's "The Nutcracker and the Four Realms" and will feature in the studio's upcoming "Jungle Cruise" adventure epic, had also been in talks to join the line-up.
Production chiefs have yet to comment on the reason for the shelved "Mouse Guard" shoot, which had a budget of $170 million (£130.7 million).
