Take a good look at those cute, classic Smurfs. Now say goodbye to them, as it looks like the new SMURFS movie won't look anything like the Smurfs we grew up with. Awhile back, James let you in on the fact that the SMURF movie was going to be "a live action/CG mix with 3-D adaptation" with director Raja Gosnell already attached. The part that made me nervous was the "live action/CG mix" tidbit, and now my fears have been realized.

Sony has posted a casting notice on Backstage concerning important characters for the film - a young boy and a young girl:

Sophie: ages 8-10, a girl of great imagination and originality, though always appealing, she is often socially awkward and doesn't fit in with the other kids, she's smart and open, though she can be physically clumsy, when she discovers that the "doll" her father brought home from Belgium is actually a living, breathing Smurf, she takes "Clumsy" in as a member of the family and tries to get the household to embrace him and the rest of the Smurfs.

Sam: 13-16 (to play 14-15), Sophie's brother, a good kid, but he's going through that phase where he can be difficult and withdrawn and retreat to his room to play video games, through his involvement in the Smurfs' quest to get home, he reconnects with his parents and sister.

So it looks like we can forget all about the wizard Gargamel in the magical forest. We can forget the cute mushroom huts. Instead we can look forward to a bluer version of ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS. I wish these guys would have made either a full CG SMURF film or an animated SMURF film (my pick) that is actually set in the original setting and actually stars the original cast. This film is one train wreck that everyone can see coming, even before production has begun.