When last we reported on the feature adaptation of the 1960s TV show, Mr. Ed, it was to tell you that Fox 2000 had the property well in hand.  Now, it looks like Waterman Entertainment is spearheading the picture as part of their family-friendly slate of pictures.  The production company continues to add “all audiences” properties that are able to be shoe-horned into a live-action/CG combination, much like their recent acquisition of The Brave Little Toaster.  Hit the jump to check out the intro from the old TV episodes as well as the full press release from Waterman.

If you found yourself put off by the lack of talking horses in the latest trailer for Steven Spielberg’s War Horse, fear not. Fox 2000 is bringing the language enhanced Mr. Ed to the big screen. THR reports that a live-action family film version of the 1960s TV show is in the works, with David Friendly (Meet Dave) and Jim Mahoney set to produce. The filmmakers will be using a real horse, as in the TV show, but instead of peanut butter they’ll be using CGI to animate the stallion’s mouth. No writer or director are currently attached, as it’s early days, but Friendly and Mahoney are apparently big Mr. Ed fans as they’ve spent several years trying to secure the rights to the series. No word on what direction the film will take, but we can reasonably assume that Eddie Murphy will want to star as the goofy father-figure.