Pixar's Brad Bird Officially Confirmed for Live-Action 1906

While we've mentioned it before, this news item still has me furrowing my brow. Though regarded as a genius in his field and after just winning an Oscar for his directorial work in Ratatouille - adding to his Oscar win in 2004 for The Incredibles - Brad Bird of Pixar has interestingly (officially via Hollywood Reporter) signed on to direct actual people in an upcoming movie called 1906. Stepping away from animation is noteworthy enough, but Bird is also tackling a story that is anything but cartoonish.

1906 is based on a novel by James Dalessandro of the same name. The story is described as: Set during the great San Francisco earthquake and fire, this page-turning tale of political corruption, vendettas, romance, rescue—and murder—is based on recently uncovered facts that forever change our understanding of what really happened.

Such material doesn't exactly follow Bird's previous works. Adding to the intrigue is that the production will be a collaborative effort between Warner Brothers and Disney/Pixar. Given the adult content and large-scale events, I suppose the latter party would assist with CGI and effects. However, large speculation is growing as to whether this will officially be positioned as a Pixar project. Now THAT would be really strange.

Bird said last year when questioned about the project that, "he's interested to moving into the live-action realm for some projects." Don't worry, though; Bird intends to continue his ground-breaking work we've all come to love. "There is a tendency for people who succeed in animation to leave. I'm not that type of guy, I love animation."

In typical Bird style, he's also assuming some writer responsibilities on the project, reworking the original script that author James Dalessandro had put together himself. Hollywood Reporter also points out that Bird actually helmed an episode of the TV show "Amazing Stories" in 1987, but that was actually an animated episode, so this truly is Bird's first live-action experience.

I think it's safe to say this entire project has an exciting fresh smell to it like you kind you'd experience in a new car for the first-time. Now, whether Bird knows how to drive stick is another story entirely.

1 Andreas on Mar 13, 2008

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