High In the Clouds - Paul McCartney, Geoff Dunbar, and Philip Ardagh  | Fab Forum | The Beatles Bible

Paul McCartney Taps New Writer for Animated Movie

It’s helter skelter (last Beatles joke, I swear) as famed Beatle and Wing Paul McCartney has found a replacement writer for his animated film in development, High in the Clouds. Hollywood writer Josh Klausner (Date Night, Shrek Forever After) has been replaced by British scribe Jon Croker, whose past credits as screenwriter include Desert Dancer and The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death, as well as writing credits on the movies In Fear, Fast Girls and Ealing Comedy. Prior to screenwriting, Croker was a production assistant on the third and fourth Harry Potter movies, and a story editor at UK Film Council for movies like Attack the Block, The Iron Lady and Berberian Sound Studio.

High in the Clouds has been a passion project McCartney has developed since 2009 with French studio Gaumont. Its first iteration came as a children’s book that McCartney co-wrote with veteran children’s writer Philip Ardagh (the Eddie Dickens series for Scholastic) and was illustrated by animator and cartoonist Geoff Dunbar, who had previously collaborated with McCartney on the 1985 animated short Rupert and the Frog Song. Dunbar is reportedly working on the film version of High in the Clouds.

The environmentally conscious book depicts the adventures of a squirrel named Wirral, who journeys to the fabled paradise of Animalia after his home is destroyed and his mother murdered by industrial expansion. Reads the official synopsis: “When Wirral the Squirrel is forced to leave his woodland home, destroyed by the expansion plans of the evil Gretsch, he vows to find the fabled land of Animalia, where all the animals are said to live in freedom and without fear. Aided and abetted by Froggo the hot-air-ballooning frog, Wilhamina the plucky red squirrel, and Ratsy the streetwise rodent, Wirral’s personal quest turns into a full-blown plan to save enslaved animals everywhere – a plan which is fraught with danger.”

In addition to producing, McCartney is slated to voice one of the main characters and contribute 9 original songs. Collaborators with McCartney on the soundtrack will include Lady Gaga and Pearl Jam’s lead guitarist Mike McCready. Cody Cameron (Open Season 3, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2) is slated to direct. Gaumont is producing in association with Lynne and Bob Shaye of Unique Features and McCartney’s MPL Communications. Gaumont’s credited producers will include CEO Sidonie Dumas, vice-CEO Christophe Riandée, and President of Animation Nicolas Atlan. Together, they will take these broken wings and learn to fly (I’m sorry).

x-posted to the Paul’s animated projects thread.

There’s more news out for the film adaptation of McCartney’s book High in the Clouds. x-posted

https://variety.com/2023/film/…..235769080/

Paul McCartney  and Gaumont have assembled an all-star creative crew for “High in the Clouds,” the long-awaited feature adaptation of McCartney’s children’s adventure novel.

Boasting six original songs by McCartney, the family adventure movie, which is budgeted at €28 million, will be directed by Toby Genkel (“The Amazing Maurice”), scored by Michael Giacchino (“Coco,” “Inside Out”) and penned by Jon Croker (“Paddington 2”), with Patrick Hanenberger (“The Croods,” “The Lego Movie 2”) tapped as production designer. McCartney will voice one of the main characters. Two other major music stars are in advanced talks to come on board.

Production will begin during the first quarter of 2024 and delivery is expected for the first quarter of 2026. Gaumont is producing with McCartney via his banner MPL Communications.

The English-language feature follows the journey of a headstrong teenage squirrel, Wirral, who lives in Gretschville, a city where music has been banned by a diva-owl, Gretsch, who wants to be the only singer in town. Determined to overthrow Gretsch and bring music back to his town, Wirral joins forces with an underground band of legendary musicians who hide high in the clouds, in a secret place called Harmonia.

“High in the Clouds” is a passion project for McCartney, who penned the children’s book in 2005. The feature project is believed to be one of the biggest and most prestigious animated features being produced independently in Europe, without the involvement of a U.S. studios. 

Gaumont, whose team is spearheaded by Alexis Cassanet, will introduce “High in the Clouds” to buyers at the AFM with a sizzle reel. On top of co-producing and handling international sales on the movie, the venerable French studio will also distribute “High in the Clouds” in France.