20th Century Fox is looking to schedule a Playdate.  The family-friendly pitch will be written by Tim Hill (Hop) and Dave Johnson, with Hill in line to direct.  Though the plot is being kept quiet at the moment, as Deadline reports, the title is fairly revealing.  The Alvin and the Chipmunks director has a long history of writing for children’s television series (Rocko’s Modern Life, SpongeBob SquarePants) and is set as the director for Dimenson Films’ remake of Short Circuit.

Fans of Peter Pan will want to hit the jump for information regarding the adaptation of the Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson novel series, Peter and the Starcatchers.

In 1986, Number Johnny 5 rolled onto screens and struck a chord with audiences. In 1988, the sentient robot appeared on screen once more in the family-friendly sequel. It’s been over twenty years since a Short Circuit feature has graced our theaters, but that’s all about to change. Having secured director Tim Hill (Hop) but losing Robot Chicken writer, Dan Milano, Dimension Films was in the market for a new scribe. Enter Matt Lieberman, a recent graduate of the Disney writers program. The writer and director are expected to churn out a fresh installment of the 1980’s franchise, unless of course the project becomes disassembled once more. Shooting is scheduled to begin late this year with a release date of Summer 2013. Hit the jump to see the full press release.

At some point in his career, Tim Hill may win an Oscar and/or be considered one of the masters of the craft.  But when people inspect Hill’s back catalogue, one title will stand out from the others: Walter the Farting Dog. Hill has agreed to direct the family movie about a flatulent pet for Paramount Pictures, on the heels of yesterday’s news that he’s attached to direct the Short Circuit remake.

Though the title may sound like a bad joke, the team behind Walter is actually pretty impressive.  The current version of the story (originally based on a series of children’s books) is written by Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow whose credits include Toy Story and Garfield. Say what you will about the quality of Garfield, but the flick made a healthy amount at the box office.  Hit the jump for more, including a synopsis of the intricately plotted book.

Dimension Films is negotiating a deal with director Tim Hill (Hop) to take the reins of its Short Circuit remake. Back in 2009, the studio tapped Steve Carr (Paul Blart: Mall Cop) to direct a script from Dan Milano. Fast-forward two years and Deadline is reporting that Hill will take over the project and oversee a brand new script. For those too young to remember, the 1986 original was directed by John Badham (WarGames) and starred Steve Guttenberg and Ally Sheedy. The pic told the story of an experimental military robot (known as Number 5/Johnny 5) that, after being electrocuted by lightning, develops intelligence, escapes from its government home, and strikes up a kinship with a family.

In addition to Hop and now the Short Circuit remake, Hill also directed 2007′s Alvin and the Chipmunks and has written for animated series’ such as Rocko’s Modern Life and SpongeBob SquarePants. For more on the original, or for just a little taste of nostalgia, hit the jump to watch a trailer for the original.

The family comedy Hop, from the makers of Despicable Me, blends CG animation with live-action, to tell the story of E.B. (voiced by Russell Brand), the teenage son of the Easter Bunny (voiced by Hugh Laurie). Hidden on Easter Island, off the coast of South America, there is the world’s most magnificent candy factory, where the Easter Bunny presides over a team of bunnies and chicks who work around the clock to prepare the candy-filled baskets that are delivered to children on Easter morning. Before his father can hand over the Easter Bunny title and all the power that goes with it, E.B. runs away to Hollywood, to follow his dream of becoming a drummer. Not long after he arrives, he meets Fred (James Marsden), a 30-year-old who is trying to pull his life together and find his place in the world. And, with E.B. uninterested in the Easter Bunny position, Fred thinks he just might have found his true calling.

At the film’s press day, director Tim Hill (Alvin and the Chipmunks) talked about the challenges of combining animation with live-action, what made Russell Brand and James Marsden his perfect leading men, and the reasons for not having done the film in 3D. Check out what he had to say after the jump:

Universal Pictures has released seven clips from director Tim Hill’s (Alvin and the Chipmunks) CG/live-action family film, Hop.  The film, which comes from Illumination Entertainment (the same company that made Despicable Me), stars James Marsden (Enchanted) as a slacker who finds himself taking care of the Easter Bunny (voiced by Russel Brand) after he accidentally injures him.  Hop also stars (or features the voice of) Kaley Cuoco, Gary Cole, Elizabeth Perkins, David Hasselhoff, Chelsea Handler, Hank Azaria and Hugh Laurie.  Hit the jump to check out the clips:

Universal has released a full-length trailer for their upcoming live-action/CGI family comedy Hop.  The film features Russell Brand as the voice of the Easter Bunny scion who doesn’t want the gig of delivering candy to people.  Also, he shits jelly beans.  I never expected to see a trailer where a character shits out jelly beans on to the roof of James Marsden’s car, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer along with some new images.  Hop opens April 1st.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, James Marsden has signed on to co-star with Russell Brand in Illumination and Universal Entertainment’s live action/CGI hybrid I Hop. The film is about a slacker played by Marsden who somehow injures Brand’s Easter Bunny and then has to take him in and cope with “the world’s worst houseguest.”  I Hop is being directed by Tim Hill, who was responsible for Alvin and the Chipmunks which, depending on your age, was either a jaunty adventure full of singing and fun or a 90-minute ear-splitting journey into a nightmarish yet oddly catchy netherworld.  The script is being written by Cinco Paul, Bryan Lynch, and Ken Daurio, with Christopher Meledandri and John Cohen producing.  Considering how likeable Marsden is and how offbeat and funny Brand has shown himself to be, this could turn out to be good.