Robert Rodriguez to Direct ‘Ugly Dolls’ Animated Film for STX
Robert Rodriguez has come on board to direct and produce the animated film “Ugly Dolls” for STX Entertainment.
The pic — the studio’s first animated release — hits theaters on May 10, 2019.
STX made the announcement on Tuesday during its annual presentation at CinemaCon, the exhibition industry trade show in Las Vegas. Rodriguez appeared in taped footage showing the initial concept art.
The film, based on the children’s toy line Uglydoll, has been in the works since 2015 — when the company first announced that the movie would launch its family and animation division. The popular characters include Wage, Babo, Ice-Bat, and Wedgehead. David Horvath and Sun-Min Ki created Uglydoll in 2001.
“We created Uglydoll on the premise that real beauty is found in the little twists and turns that make us who we are,” Horvath said back in 2015. “We could not be more excited or optimistic about the future of the Uglydoll universe in the hands of the STX Entertainment team.”
This marks Rodriguez’s first animated film, which he will produce through his production company Troublemaker Studios. The toon will also be produced by STX, with Gigi Pritzker and Odd Lot Entertainment co-producing. Horvath and business partner Drew Matilsky will executive produce.
Rodriguez is in negotiations to also direct the remake of John Carpenter’s iconic “Escape From New York,” Fox revealed on Friday.
Rodriguez is in post-production on the live-action movie adaptation of “Alita: Battle Angel,” starring Rosa Salazar, and produced by James Cameron and Jon Landau. The pic opens on July 20, 2018.
Rodriguez’s directing credits include “El Mariachi,” “Desperado,” “Once Upon a Time in Mexico,” “From Dusk Till Dawn,” “Sin City,” the “Spy Kids” films and “The AdventuresOof Sharkboy & Lavagirl.”
He is repped by WME.
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