Zemeckis Goes to Disney

Director Bob Zemeckis and his producing partners Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey are pacting with Walt Disney Studios to produce performance capture movies for the studio. This is a big loss for Sony and there's no mention of Sony Imageworks, which developed the technology for Polar Express and Monster House (will Pixar be involved now?) and Warner Bros. (Polar Express) and Paramount, which partnered on Beowulf. Finally, as these things tend to go, the place that needed Zemeckis the most, Disney, paid the premium to get him. Zemeckis falls inside Disney's current family film mandate and former marketing head turned production chief Oren Aviv hasn’t been greenlighting much product. Zemeckis remains free to ply his live-action directing trade elsewhere.

Here's THR's story:

Director Robert Zemeckis and his producing partners Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey are joining forces with the Walt Disney Studios to set up a new performance-capture film company devoted to CG-created, 3-D movies. Zemeckis and Disney chairman Dick Cook announced the new venture Monday.

The company will create films using the performance capture technology that digitally records actors' movements and feeds them into a computer that Zemeckis has been perfecting with such films as "Polar Express," which he directed, "Monster House," which he exec produced, and the upcoming "Beowulf," which he also is directing.

Zemeckis, Rapke and Starkey will produce all of the films with Zemeckis expected to direct a number of the projects. Disney will distribute and market the motion pictures worldwide.

Cook said, "The creation of this new company is yet another step in our leadership role in cutting edge technology as it relates to the movie industry. Bob is an amazing director who continues to push the envelope in creating the best in cinematic experiences."

Zemeckis added, "Jack, Steve and I are looking forward with great excitement to be working with Dick Cook and his team. In addition to being an enthusiastic champion of 3D movies, the Walt Disney Studios is committed to the advancement of digital cinema in all areas including performance capture."