The rats of NIMH may soon be on the move again. Citing sources at Paramount, both Variety and The Hollywood Reporter are saying Neil Burger (The Illusionist) is in talks to adapt Robert C. O'Brien's award-winning 1971 book Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH for a new film, though it remains unclear if the updated version will be animated or live action with animation. The movie would be the second time the book had been brought to the silver screen, with Don Bluth's beloved, classic 1982 original The Secret of NIMH being the first. That version boasted vocal talents of a wide array of actors — including everyone from the late Elizabeth Hartman and Dom DeLuise, to Shannen Doherty and Wil Wheaton, to Derek Jacobi and John Carradine — and was critically acclaimed for its detailed, hand-drawn animation.
Jul 29
2009
07:52 AM ET
New 'Secret of NIMH' movie in the works at Paramount
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This can’t end well.
With studios shunning smart, well made animated films for fluff like the recent G-Force, the story will be toned down for the lowest common denominator (with fart jokes and music, I bet)
Although, The Illusionist was a pretty good film, so there may be hope as long as they stay true to the original, don’t tone it down for the youngest kids, and keep it 2D.
Now they’re re-making this one? I loved the old one–I was completely disturbed by it, back in the day!
As a kid, I thought the film was OK but was irritated by the changes in the plot from the book. Maybe a new adaption would be more faithful.
na
Don’t think I like this idea of remaking NIMH…
Please stop remaking stuff from the 80s. Seriously. Leave classics alone, quit trying to “improve” them because you (Hollywood) are out of ideas.
WTF!! Oh, He** NO!! I love, love, love the original. No freakin’ way!!
NIMH is one of my childhood favorites, both in film and print.
I dearly hope this doesn’t come to pass. The original is nothing short of an animated masterpiece, but with today’s moviegoing audience yearning for bland humor and straightforward plots… I just can’t imagine this turning out well.
The remaking of this film by anyone short of Tim Burton is complete and utter BLASPHEMY!! It is a true cinamtic masterpiece, whats next… remake Dark Crystal and Labyrinth? paramount will undoubtingly use CGI to animate this film destroying the integrity of its genius!!!
I just heard that Tim B is already thinking of remaking Labyrinth. Be careful what you throw out there on the internet. Someone is always reading it.
Why decry a new NIMH movie just because you loved the original? You know, when they re-make a movie (or a new movie based off the same material as another movie), the original doesn’t go away. I’m looking forward to it!
And I’m glad Tim Burton isn’t making it. It’s already scary enough without adding Burton’s terrifying dark edge. I love his movies, but sometimes….
I would like to see a version that actually followed the book. Don Bluth’s version was cutsey & clearly for children – the book itself had many dark undertones and warnings concerning the tampering with nature and the development of human society, social mores and individual responsibility. It had a dualistic presence: one of a simple childrens story which appealed to simpler minds of children, and another story for adults forewarning of the dangers tampering with genetics can bring. How visionary for a story written in 1971 considering we are now cloning animals and performing genetic testing.
they better make the remake of secret of nimh in 2d like don bluth did, or they face my wrath! putting on live-action is a stupid idea, and lamer than they think.
This was one of my favourite movies as a kid, but it was definitely one of the very first darkest movies I was subjected to at such a young age. I feel this is important, a kid needs to be just a little bit scared sometimes, it adds to the overall grasp of realism and suspense for the characters involved, especially for the protagonist Mrs Brisby. It’ll probably mean putting the PG rating on the movie, but it would be a smarter move if you wanted to attract die hard fans and slightly older kids (say 7 or 8+) to see the movie. Older Audiences may be more interested in it, rather than just shunning it as a complete kiddy movie. Then again it’s a bit unfair for me to say all this as I have not read the original book, I’m speaking in terms of what I experienced when I saw the 1982 movie as a child.
I don’t like the idea of the remake, but Neil Burger ha made some good films ( like the illusionist). He’d just better not ruin the story
Also, it better be 2D