New image from 'Tintin' hits the web

A brand new still from Steven Spielberg's upcoming motion-capture animated adventure "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn" has found its way to the Web via Animatie, and you can check it out just above. The film drops Dec. 23, 2011.

Steven Moffat and Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish penned the script, and the cast includes Jamie Bell (Tintin), Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis (Haddock) and Cary Elwes. The film is based on the characters created by Hergé.

In the first film of what will hopefully develop into a franchise, Tintin and his friends discover directions to a sunken ship commanded by Capt. Haddock's ancestor and go off on a treasure hunt. As an old fan of the "Tintin" series, I admit I'm stoked!

First pictures from Steven Spielberg's 'Tintin'

Tintin really takes me back to my childhood, and I'm super excited about Steven Spielberg's upcoming 3D motion capture film "The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn," which opens Dec. 28, 2011.

The folks at Empire received the very first stills from the movie, and you can check them out above and below. I've also included the magazine's new cover, which shows the famous Tintin running pose.

Captain Haddock is also featured in the stills below. The cast includes Jamie Bell (Tintin), Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis (Haddock) and Cary Elwes. Peter Jackson is producing...

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Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig board 'Tintin' adaptation

Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment today announced Jamie Bell will play Tintin in Steven Spielberg's upcoming 3D motion capture film "The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn," which has officially started production.

Also joining the cast is Daniel Craig, who will portray Red Rackham. Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Gad Elmaleh, Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook are already on board.

Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish wrote the script for this first film, which Spielberg is directing and Peter Jackson is co-producing. Jackson is set to direct the second flick in the upcoming series.

Bell's credits include "Billy Elliot," "King Kong" and "Jumper." He is currently onscreen alongside Craig in "Defiance." The guy's got talent, and I'm sure he'll do just fine portraying the famous young reporter created by Herge.

If you have no clue who popular Tintin really is, here is some extra info from the official press release:

"The Adventures of Tintin - a series of 24 books, the final unfinished adventure was published after Herge's death - became Herge's life's work. The first adventure was published in 1929. Over 200 million copies have been sold worldwide. The popular series has been translated into 70 languages and still attracts thousands of new fans each year."

Yep, I always adored "Tintin," and I'm certainly looking forward to this flick, which is currently scheduled to open in 2011.

Simon Pegg, Nick Frost to star in 'Tintin'

We haven't heard that much about Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson's ambitious "Tintin" project in a while, but the movie is certainly not dead. On the contrary, it's actually set to head into production in the coming months.

Now, according to the folks at Ain't It Cool News, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg are on board to star as Thomson and Thompson. This info comes from one of their sources, so it has not been announced officially quite yet.

Okay, as you know these two characters totally look alike and Pegg and Frost share no physical similarities at all, but I think they'll somehow be able to make it work because the animated film will be shot in 3D using motion-capture technology.

Andy Serkis is also on board as Captain Haddock. Thomas Sangster was attached to star as Tintin, but he recently dropped out because of scheduling conflicts.

That's all I got for you for now. "Tintin" will be produced on a budget of $130 million via Sony and Paramount. Spielberg is helming the first film, while Jackson will direct the second one.

Good to now this is moving ahead. "Tintin" always was a huge part of my childhood, and I can't wait to see that delightful character stroll across the big screen.

Universal says no to Spielberg’s ‘Tintin’

Even Steven Spielberg has trouble getting the funding for his films these days. Spielberg and Peter Jackson have been trying to get Universal Pictures to approve a $130 million budget for the development of “Tintin,” a 3D animated flick based on the famous Belgian comic.

But that’s clearly too much for Universal, which – believe it or not – refused to finance the big project, according to the Los Angeles Times. Now the two filmmakers have to look for a new financial partner somewhere else.

Growing up in Europe, I always enjoyed reading Herge’s “Tintin” books, but I somehow understand Universal’s decision of considering the film adaptation a little too risky. After all, “Tintin” has never been a massive hit in the United States. And turning it into a 3D animated feature doesn’t make things easier.

Still, with Spielberg directing and Jackson producing, I still believe they can easily create a highly profitable film. Just look at how much money several other Hollywood productions collected in Europe alone over the past months. Even “Kung Fu Panda” has reached an overseas total of more than $400 million.

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