The Simpsons Movie

The Simpsons Movie
File:Simpsons movie poster.jpg Early design of The Simpsons Movie poster
Directed by	David Silverman
Written by	Matt Groening James L. Brooks Al Jean Mike Scully Ian Maxtone-Graham George Meyer David Mirkin Mike Reiss Matt Selman John Swartzwelder Jon Vitti
Produced by	James L. Brooks Matt Groening Al Jean Mike Scully Richard Sakai
Starring	Dan Castellaneta Julie Kavner Nancy Cartwright Yeardley Smith Hank Azaria Harry Shearer Marcia Wallace Pamela Hayden Tress MacNeille Maggie Roswell Russi Taylor
Music by	Hans Zimmer David A. Stewart (songs)
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release dates	July 27, 2007
Language	English

The Simpsons Movie is the working title for an animated film based on the American animated sitcom The Simpsons. It is being produced by Gracie Films for 20th Century Fox with animation produced by Film Roman, and is scheduled to be released "worldwide" on July 27, 2007. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, Al Jean, Mike Scully, and Richard Sakai are the producers and it is written by eleven of the television series' most prolific writers.

Teaser trailer

File:Simpsons teaser trailer.jpg

Homer sitting on his couch in the teaser trailer that debuted on March 31, 2006

A teaser trailer for the film was attached to the Fox movie, Ice Age: The Meltdown and could be seen in most theaters in the U.S. starting on March 31, 2006; this same trailer (cropped for television) was broadcast during the April 2 episode of The Simpsons, Million Dollar Abie.

The teaser begins with the camera panning closely over the Superman "S" insignia, while voice over actor Don LaFontaine dramatically announces "In 2007, leaping his way onto the silver screen, the greatest hero in American history." This is meant to give the impression of the trailer being for Superman Returns, one of the most high-profile releases of the summer of 2006.

The shot then zooms out to show Homer, wearing only a tiny Superman t-shirt and briefs, sitting on his couch. He blinks and timidly states, "I forgot what I'm supposed to say!" The words "The Simpsons" appear, followed a moment later by the word "Movie" in large letters, as simultaneously the announcer says "'The Simpsons Movie' Opening worldwide, July 27, 2007." Homer is heard in the background, saying "Uh oh, we'd better get started!"

It then displays the release date, while Mr. Burns says "excellent" in the background.

Trivia

Confirmed

There will be new characters introduced in the movie; It has been stated that Albert Brooks is scheduled to provide a guest voice for an all-new character in the movie, and may reprise some of his past characters (Brad Goodman, Jacques, Hank Scorpio, Cowboy Bob and Tab Spangler). Also, Minnie Driver and Erin Brockovich (the real-life activist) are confirmed to have parts.

Kelsey Grammer has said that his character, Sideshow Bob, will make an appearance in the movie.

The movie will be produced in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, possibly as an homage to 20th Century Fox's early film format, CinemaScope.

The producers are aiming for a PG-13 rating.

Speculative

Having Brockovich play a part in the film could mean that the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, with its appalling safety record, will play a strong part in the plot.

The whole range of 'notable' Simpsons actors and characters are expected to be used.

We're going to put some fake plots out there, just to make it interesting.

James L. Brooks

In April 2006, Ain't It Cool News reported this "scoop": "In the movie Homer causes an accident at the nuclear power plant - which causes the town’s drinking water to be spoiled. Therefore, Erin Brockovich is guest starring - playing herself. After the incident, Homer gets fired from the plant, and majority of Springfield's citizens move away." However, it should be noted that it was reported by a speculative source, so it may not actually turn out to be the plot at all.

History

The people behind The Simpsons had entertained the thought of a movie since early in the series, but things never came together. Rumours of a movie had been circulating for just as long. The episode "Kamp Krusty" was originally going to be a movie, but became a regular episode after difficulties were encountered in trying to expand the script to feature-length.

News website Corona posted a popular April Fool's Day hoax describing fictional plans for a live action movie in 2000.

In 2004, rumors of a movie development resumed, with sources claiming that it would premiere on July 27 2007; this was confirmed by 20th Century Fox on June 6, 2005. Matt Groening revealed that they had been offered the chance to make a live-action version, but turned it down as it would have likely ruined the franchise and angered fans. A live-action intro for an episode was filmed in the United Kingdom in 2006 as a promo for Sky One, which restarted rumours of such a version; these were, however, quelled. Fox has since acquired the rights of this promo to be used in the United States.

The writers of the show have been working on the current script since 2001.

Related quotes

• "We're very excited about the performances in this movie. Come next Oscars, we think it's going to be Milhouse's night" - Matt Groening
• "[Since 2001] we'd been working to get a script that would be worthy of people actually paying to see the Simpsons" - Matt Groening
• "We've been running a little behind schedule- But only by about 15 years or so." - Matt Groening
• "If I were feeling any more pressure, I'd be a diamond" - Al Jean
• "We're going to put some fake plots out there just to make it interesting." - James L. Brooks
• "The idea of the movie is that all of us who ran the show at one point and who have been there from the beginning come together as the writing team for this movie. That's the idea of it." - James L. Brooks
• "That trailer is running on 7,000 screens this weekend, committing us to opening every place in the world on the same date, which means, we'd better get started." - James L. Brooks
• "We've taken script security to the point of lunacy, though it helped that we wrote it in Aramaic" - Mike Scully
• "This was enormously challenging, because it involved filling 120 blank pages with an actual story and words people say." - James L. Brooks
• "I can absolutely guarantee that this film will far exceed the wildest expectations of every Simpsons fan. Start lining up at the theater now, preferably in costume." - Al Jean
• "The movie is a result of the very singular vision of eleven people." - Mike Scully

See also

• List of animated feature films

External links

• The Simpsons Movie at the Internet Movie Database
• Simpsons film confirmed for 2007 at BBC News
• The Simpsons Movie teaser trailer at Apple's Trailer Page
• The Simpsons Movie at Rottentomatoes.com