DreamWorks to attend 'Boo U'

DreamWorks Animation is gearing up to spook audiences as they begin work on an as yet untitled ghost project with a competing fourth quarter 2012 release date.

According to HollywoodReporter.com, Jon Vitti, who wrote "The Simpsons Movie", will write the screenplay about a ghost who is bad at haunting and must return to ghost school

"Boo U" will be directed by Tony Leondis who wrote the story for 2004's "Home on the Range." In addition, Gil Netter and Courtney Pledger will be the executive producers. Netter was the executive producer on the 1995 Sean Connery/Richard Gere/Julia Ormond film "First Knight" and was also the executive producer of Julia Roberts's hit 1997 romantic comedy "My Best Friend's Wedding," Pledger was the executive producer of the 1998 television movie "Nightmare Street" which starred Sherilyn Fenn.

Meanwhile, "Boo U" is competing against another ghoul-centered picture entitled "Freakers," which is being written by Lisa Addario who wrote 2007's "Surf's Up" and focuses on a ghost story told by the ghost's point of view. Plus, there is a third ghost-related story idea that is in the pitch stage. So the battle for a fourth quarter 2012 release date will be a fierce one.

Presently, both "Puss in Boots" and a third "Madagascar" film are slated for a 2012 release. As it stands, the secret ghost project would hit theaters Nov. 12 if it's not beat out by the caveman comedy "The Croods" or the Terry Pratchett adaptation "Truckers."