Goodnight Moon, Hello Movie

I’m happy to finally be able to announce the next thing I’m writing after Shazam!/Captain Marvel — an adaptation of one of the best-selling children’s books ever: [Goodnight Moon](http://astore.amazon.com/johnaugustcom-20/detail/0694003611/103-7231239-6222202), by Margaret Wise Brown.

[](http://astore.amazon.com/johnaugustcom-20/103-7231239-6222202?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=28)Anyone who’s ever had a baby has probably read this book, so it’s no surprise that Hollywood’s been trying to adapt it for years. [Robert Bolt](http://imdb.com/name/nm0004122/) wrote a draft, as have [Waldo Salt](http://imdb.com/name/nm0759029/) and [Andrew Kevin Walker](http://imdb.com/name/nm0001825/) (his version had [Tom Tykwer](http://imdb.com/name/nm0878756/) attached.) So will this new incarnation be the one that finally gets it made? Hard to say.

There are certainly plenty of heavy-hitters involved: [Gore Verbinski](http://imdb.com/name/nm0893659/) is directing, Joel Silver is producing, and Lucasfilm has signed on to handle the visual effects. The movie will be shot largely greenscreen, like 300, with extensive motion capture to handle the Little Bunny and the Kittens.I fully recognize the irony in using greenscreen to create the Great Green Room.

Probably the most innovative and challenging aspect is the casting of the Quiet Old Lady: [Jessica Tandy](http://imdb.com/name/nm0001788/), who passed away in 1994. Using reference photos and forensic measurement (obtained with permission of her estate), she’ll be digitally recreated, a pixel-perfect reproduction.Tandy’s voice won’t be a particular challenge. True to the book, the Quiet Old Lady only whispers one line: “Hush.” The hope is that the R&D involved in building her for this movie will enable her to be re-used in future movies.I’ve actually read a script for a sequel to Driving Miss Daisy, which was obviously never shot. They’re talking about doing it in digital 3D, but it’s unclear whether that’s really going to happen. The infrastructure might not be there, and I’d question whether little kids are going to be willing to wear special glasses. No matter what the format, count on a great Danny Elfman soundtrack to accompany the visuals.

The movie is set up at Walden (who did Narnia) for 20th Century Fox. Given the number of zeroes in the budget, one would expect it to be a summer or Christmas release, but it’s obviously a long ways off.

Before you ask, I have no who we’re casting for the other roles. Right now, I’m focusing on how to turn an 18-page board book into a 100-minute family-friendly blockbuster.

**UPDATE (4/2/07): For future readers looking through the archives, please make sure to check the date: April 1, 2007. Which is also known as [April Fools’ Day](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Fools’_Day).**