3D Shorts: FINAL DESTINATION Gets New Name; 50 YEARS Gets Distribution; HUMPTY DUMPTY Gets New Poster

Hey Jim here. Got some quick 3D news for you...

- FINAL DESTINATION: DEATH TRIP 3D is no longer. It has been renamed to THE FINAL DESTINATION - nothing too drastic, but better if you ask me. Almost sounds like a reboot attempt from scratch rather than as part of a franchise. (Source: Box Office Mojo)

Ok. Name change. Not sure about the timing, but I didn't really like the first one anyway...

- AROUND THE WORLD IN 50 YEARS has picked up distribution while at the Cannes Film Festival through Universal Music Group. Apparently the deal was consumated after a presentation of the movie which also included about 15 minutes of 3D. Moreover, it is not just for North American theatrical distribution but also DVD, TV, Non-theatrical and global soundtrack rights. (Source: Animation Magazine)

Love it when a plan comes together. Looks like UMG fell in love the project - can't wait to see it.

- Sony and Regal Cinemas have shaken hands on a 4K digital projector rollout to ~5,000 screens over the next 3 to 5 years. Of special note is that they have a grand total of ~6,700 screens right now, so digital will be making up about 75% of all their screens. This comes right on the heels of another massive 4K projector deal with AMC (4,700 screens) - making Sony 4K the industry leader right out of no where. That is if you can ever say that about Sony. 4K is the real deal guys. Congrats on the deals. And bring on 3D! :-)

Well if you had any doubt about Sony's entry in digital and 3D, you can drop them now. That is a rather resounding industry endorsement don't you think? I have seen the tech first hand (albeit a smallish screen) and it does look amazing.

- HUMPTY DUMPTY has revealed his box office teeth early - a new poster has the human/alien creature pulling a Jack Nicholson from behind a hole in a door. The movie is about an alien that wreaks havoc on humans after his mother is "abused by two rednecks in the Deep South". I think it has a great deal of potential... (Source: MySpace via ShockTilYouDrop)

Kinda disturbing character don't you think? And if the Executive Producer (Mark Ordesky) has anything to do with it, the FX are gonna be WILD.

3D Updates: AROUND THE WORLD IN 50 YEARS -and- MAGIC JOURNEY TO AFRICA

Jim here. Europe seems to be taking off with recent 3D projects and a couple of new distribution deals for 3D projects I have been following since early last year. Thanks to Variety for the heads up on the recent distribution deals that finally came to fruition:

First up: We had been following this project since early May of last year - Ben Staussen's AROUND THE WORLD IN 50 YEARS had its distribution rights sewn up by StudioCanal of France. ATW50Y is an animation about a sea turtle and features the voices of Tim Curry, Anthony Anderson, Ed Begley Jr., Pat Carroll, Kathy Griffin, Melanie Griffith, Stacy Keach and Jenny McCarthy. Story revolves around a turtle born in 1959 who travels the globe while it is being affected by global warming.

I think you will agree with me that the image looks very appealing and as with most underwater 3D movies - it should screen extremely well.

Secondly: Seemingly immediately after the StudioCanal announcement, Jordi Llompart's MAGIC JOURNEY TO AFRICA was picked up for distribution by Filmax Entertainment of Spain. This was previously known as THE MAGIC TALE. I had been tracking this project courtesy of Nerea Rubio of Orbita Max (a Barcelona produciton company) who was kind enough to reach out to me back in October of 2008.

The storyline begins with Jana, a 10 year old girl from Barcelona, seeing a bushman boy hospitalized. She then starts a magical journey on her winged-horse searching for him in his land, Africa. While in Africa she will meet Mel, her new best friend, that will travel with her whenever possible. Jana will also interact with other children, animals and magical creatures (encountering a fairy - what little girl would not want to see that!) that will show her the path to imagination and meaning of life. Jana’s magical journey to Africa contains a deep message about friendship, love, passion, nature and imagination. It is a spiritual journey for the adults and a magical travel for the kids, full of mysteries, adventures and discoveries.

Stereographer is William Reeve. The portraits are Eva Gerretsen who plays Jana and Raymond Mvula who is Jana's best friend Mel.

I have a soft spot for this movie. I think it will be a very refreshing change to our normal 3D fare and if it delivers the way I think it will, it should be up for some awards. Mark my words.

Quick Post: Ben Stassen Bringing Us 3D Live Action "Horror Tour"

According to THR, FLY ME TO THE MOON's Ben Stassen will begin shooting HORROR TOUR in the spring or summer of 2009. Little is known about the stereoscopic 3D movie except that it is a live action effort.

Stassen brought us nWave's 3D animation FLY ME TO THE MOON which is to open August 15th. Stassen is also bringing us AROUND THE WORLD IN 50 YEARS (2010?) - an animation about a sea turtle. Voices by: Tim Curry, Anthony Anderson, Ed Begley Jr., Pat Carroll, Kathy Griffin, Melanie Griffith, Stacy Keach and Jenny McCarthy. Story revolves around a turtle born in 1959 who travels the globe while it is being affected by global warming. More info in MarketSaw's list of upcoming 3D movies.

Stay tuned for more info!

nWave: "Around the World in 50 Years - 3D"

Some great news out of Belgium - nWave, the creators of "Fly Me To The Moon" (3D animation due out August 8th) have announced their next project - another 3D animation leveraging the vocal talents of Tim Curry entitled "Around the World in 50 Years - 3D". Story revolves around a turtle born in 1959 who travels the globe while it is being affected by global warming.

Joining Curry will be Anthony Anderson, Ed Begley Jr., Pat Carroll, Kathy Griffin, Melanie Griffith, Stacy Keach and Jenny McCarthy.

nWave is funding the project from within and plans to have it completed in 2009. Ben Stassen directs once again (Fly Me To The Moon) while also producing with Caroline Van Iseghem, Gina Gallo, Mimi Maynard, and Domonic Paris.

Source: Variety

Wow! They Are Popping Up Everywhere! Here's A Current List Of 3D Theaters In North America AND The World!

The following is a list of North American 3D Movie Theaters using RealD technology (Effective August 1st, 2008 unless otherwise posted). The International listings are effective June 19th, 2008.

Select Your Region:

1. Alabama, Arkansas & Arizona

(**UPDATED** August 1st, 2008)

2. California
(**UPDATED** August 1st, 2008)

3. Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia & Florida
(**UPDATED** August 1st, 2008)

4. Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho & Illinois
(**UPDATED** August 1st, 2008)

5. Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachussetts & Maryland
(**UPDATED** August 1st, 2008)

6. Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi & Montana
(**UPDATED** August 1st, 2008)

7. North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico & Nevada
(**UPDATED** August 1st, 2008)

8. New York, Ohio, Oklahoma & Oregon
(**UPDATED** August 1st, 2008)

9. Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota & Tennessee
(**UPDATED** August 1st, 2008)

10. Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin & Wyoming
(**UPDATED** August 1st, 2008)

11. Canada - Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan
(**UPDATED** August 1st, 2008)

12. Australia, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Germany and Greece
(**UPDATED** June 19th, 2008)

13. Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan and South Korea
(**UPDATED** June 19th, 2008)

14. Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Taiwan
(**UPDATED** June 19th, 2008)

15. The Netherlands, Turkey and United Kingdom
(**UPDATED** June 19th, 2008)