Paramount picks up “The New Kid” for new animated alien flick
With the success of RANGO, Paramount has proven that it can do animation all on its own, and the studio is diving deeper into the children's movie world with their latest acquisition. NEW KID will be adapted from a Penny Arcade property, and they've already locked in Gary Whitta (BOOK OF ELI) to pen the script.
The premise takes the traditional tale of being the new kid at school, but amplifies it by having the new kid be the sole earthling in a school of aliens. It takes the "outcast" story to its intergalactic extreme!
Originally from Penny Arcade, it has quite the online fan base and I have to wonder if they're trying to cash in on new social media movements a la S#%t My Dad Says on CBS. While that show was cancelled, it still averaged 10 million viewers a week. The Penny Arcade comes built in with a blog, video games, an online TV show, and a regular podcast. The old rule applies, studios think that existing properties are easier to sell and will leader to more money. However, the financial failure of SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD proves that it doesn't always work.
Paramount is banking on it financially, given that their contract with Dreamworks Animation is nearing an end. Should they not be able to come to a deal, Paramount will need a good amount of animation projects of their own to fill that void so NEW KID could be just the start of their acquisition deals on kid-friendly material.
Source THR
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