Polar Bear Could Become Hollywood Star
Created: 2008-01-04 11:11 EST
Category: Entertainment
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CHAN:
Berlin's Zoo could be close to signing a deal with a Hollywood studio. Its lovable baby polar bear, Knut, would be the star of a new animated film.
STORY:
Knut stole the heart of Berliners after he was born in December but rejected by his mother. A bearded zookeeper moved into the enclosure to look after him, but Knut's fate grabbed global attention after an animal rights campaigner said hand-rearing polar bears was a violation of animal rights.
Now he is set to follow in the footsteps of Hollywood stars "Nemo" and "Shrek.”
Hollywood producer Ash R. Shah has offered the zoo 10,000 dollars in advance for the film rights, and according to the local newspaper, "Berliner Zeitung" they have the possibility of five million dollars in royalties once the movie has launched.
[Bernhard Blaskiewitz, Berlin Zoo Director]
"It's been blown out of proportion a bit, like it always is with the press. What is true is that there are various people interested in making an animated film about Knut. And what one of the papers is reporting is that there is an offer for such a film from the United States. But the amounts of money mentioned are not existent. What is certain, is the guarantee of 100,000 dollars."
The film will deal with the story of Knut's life but will also touch on topics such as global warming and the plight of Knut's fellow polar bears in the wild.
Berlin's Zoo could be close to signing a deal with a Hollywood studio. Its lovable baby polar bear, Knut, would be the star of a new animated film.
STORY:
Knut stole the heart of Berliners after he was born in December but rejected by his mother. A bearded zookeeper moved into the enclosure to look after him, but Knut's fate grabbed global attention after an animal rights campaigner said hand-rearing polar bears was a violation of animal rights.
Now he is set to follow in the footsteps of Hollywood stars "Nemo" and "Shrek.”
Hollywood producer Ash R. Shah has offered the zoo 10,000 dollars in advance for the film rights, and according to the local newspaper, "Berliner Zeitung" they have the possibility of five million dollars in royalties once the movie has launched.
[Bernhard Blaskiewitz, Berlin Zoo Director]
"It's been blown out of proportion a bit, like it always is with the press. What is true is that there are various people interested in making an animated film about Knut. And what one of the papers is reporting is that there is an offer for such a film from the United States. But the amounts of money mentioned are not existent. What is certain, is the guarantee of 100,000 dollars."
The film will deal with the story of Knut's life but will also touch on topics such as global warming and the plight of Knut's fellow polar bears in the wild.
