Studio has begun work with the Oscar-winning ‘Hair Love’ director on an afro-centric, coming-of-age take on the boy King, Tutankhamun.
‘Hair Love,’ Matthew A. Cherry’s Oscar-winning animated short film. Cherry has just begun development of the animated feature, ‘TUT,’ an afro-centric, coming-of-age take on the boy King, Tutankhamun, with Sony Pictures Animation.
Sony Pictures Animation and Oscar-winning Hair Love director Matthew A. Cherry have begun development of an animated feature, tentatively titled TUT. The film, based on an original idea by Cherry and Monica A. Young, is described as an afro-futuristic, coming-of-age take on the story of Tutankhamun, the boy king, that takes us on a fantastical journey through Ancient Egypt - a celebration of a culture that introduced the world to countless modern conventions and technologies.
Cherry is attached to direct and serve as executive producer with Young. “I am beyond excited to explore the magical world of ancient Egypt through the eyes of its youngest ruler, King Tut,” he said about the new project. “I’ve always wanted to dive deeper into the legend of the boy king, and we can’t think of better partners to embark upon this journey with than Kristine Belson, Karen Toliver and the great people at Sony Pictures Animation.”
According to Kristine Belson, Sony Pictures Animation president, “Matthew is one of today's most exceptional creative voices. We had the privilege of collaborating with him on his first animated short, which has since evolved into his first animated series - and we're so proud to team up again on his first animated feature, TUT. Matthew has a bold and modern take on this story rarely told, filled with magic, music, and powerful themes - and we're thrilled that we get to go on this adventure together.”
Just this past July, AWN reported that HBO Max had greenlit the animated series, Young Love, based on Hair Love; Cherry will serve as series showrunner, with Sony Pictures Animation handling production.
TUT will mark the third collaboration between Cherry and Sony Animation's EVP of creative, Karen Rupert Toliver, who also earned an Academy Award as producer on Hair Love.
Cherry is represented by ICM Partners, Blue Key Management and The Law Offices of R. Vaughn Gill.
Source: Sony Pictures Animation
Dan Sarto(link sends e-mail) is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
