Mouse Guard is the latest 20th Century Fox project to feel the heat from the studio’s recent acquisition by Disney. Deadline brings word that Disney has decided to scrap the planned adaptation of David Petersen’s comic book series a mere two weeks before the film was supposed to start production.
Wes Ball was going to direct Mouse Guard from a screenplay by Gary Whitta. Described as “Game of Thrones with mice,” the Eisner-winning source material depicts a medieval mouse brotherhood dedicated to protecting its community from all kinds of predators. The film had already lined up an impressive cast including Idris Elba, Andy Serkis, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, and Sonoya Mizuno. Those actors would have brought the comic’s anthropomorphic rodents to life via motion capture performances. Deadline’s report also suggests that the cancellation is part of Disney’s effort to cut down on projects aimed at younger moviegoers.
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The Disney-Fox deal has led to the cancellation of other big-budget Fox movies as well. Planned films headlined by Gambit and Doctor Doom are supposedly off the books completely. X-Force might be in trouble too. However, it seems likely that this team-up vehicle will find salvation under the Marvel Studios umbrella. Disney also recently made the decision to close down the Fox 2000 label. 3,000 Fox employees were said to be laid off following the merger’s completion.
In spite of this latest development, Mouse Guard’s producers aren’t giving up hope just yet. Matt Reeves, Ross Ritchie, and Stephen Christy are apparently shopping the film around to other studios.
What are your thoughts on Disney’s decision to pass on Fox’s Mouse Guard adaptation? Are you hoping for the film to see the light of day? Let us know in the comment section below!
