09/03/2007

At a press conference held yesterday to open the centenary anniversary of comic artist Hergé, creator of the famous reporter Tintin, Nick Rodwell finally put an end to several months of suspense. "We entered negotiations with Spielberg’s company twenty-five years ago. Three years ago, we signed a contract with his company, DreamWorks. Last week, they decided to start pre-production on a series of films, " said Rodwell, the second husband of the comic writer’s widow.

Rodwell – director of Studios Hergé (formerly Fondation Hergé) and administrator of the Belgian outfit Moulinsart, who hold the rights to the comic strip – announced in January that negotiations with the US studio were well underway. However, he should have further information this week when the option, renewed several times, reaches its deadline.

After much discussion, the company has finally agreed to board the project and will start pre-production of what has been described by Rodwell as a massive project whose budget is nearer to $100m than $20m. The film could be ready in two or three years. Whether it will be a traditional feature, an animated film or made in 3D, or a mixture of all three is impossible to say as nothing is set in stone as yet, but it has been known for some time that the US studio has its sights on “The Blue Lotus", "Tintin in Tibet", the double edition of "The Seven Crystal Balls" and of “Red Rackham’s Treasure”.

In 1983, Steven Spielberg optioned the film about the adventures of the famous Belgian reporter, created by Hergé, whom the director almost met before the artist’s death. Paramount’s buyout of DreamWorks was met with elation by Tintin lovers, as it means that generous funds are now available to make an adaptation of one of the 24 albums.

Since Spielberg is currently up to his eyes with the production of a fourth Indiana Jones instalment, there are doubts that he will have time to pilot this adaptation at all. While a veil of doubt may prevail over everything at this stage, 25 years of perseverance makes it highly likely that the US director will, nevertheless, be involved in the project.

(Translated from French)