Thundercats, the CG-animated movie based on the Y-front sporting anthropomorphic felines who rocked many a world in the '80s, has found a director. When you hear who it is, or rather what he does now, you're probably going to roll your eyes and possibly tut in an audible fashion, but let's consider all he's done first. The man to bring Lion-O and Co to screen will be Jerry O'Flaherty, who's made his living up until now as...an art director of video games.
Now, hold your horses there. Let's look at the video games he's had a hand in. The top of his list are Gears of War and Unreal Tournament. Online Editor James is the only one in our office who's played Unreal Tournament, but he makes a happy face (or maybe it's wind?) when you mention it, so let's assume that's good. But Gears of War is actually a very very well directed little piece. The spooky mood is dead on, many of the shot choices are emminently cinematic and there's decent character work, y'know, for a video game. And, really, is the gap between high-end video games and movies now really so huge? This guy could do something interesting.
O'Flaherty will work on the script with Paul Sopocy. The story is set to focus on the coming of age of Lion-O, who flees the dying planet Thundera with a collection of other furry friends and lands on Third Earth, where he does battle with Mumm-Ra (The. Evaaaah. LIIIIIVVVVIIIINNNNG!).
Say thee HOOOOO or NOOOOO?