After two consecutive misses with critics, filmmaker Jason Reitman has decided to try something different. He will direct Beekle, an adaptation of the children’s book The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, for Dreamworks Animation.
The studio announced that Reitman will also work on the film’s script. Dan Santat wrote and illustrated the book, which centers on an imaginary friend who insists on waiting for a “real child” to actually imagine him. However, when no child satisfies him, he decides to go to the real world anyway.
“Welcoming Jason onto this project is a true coup, as his incredible ability to tell heartfelt character-driven stories with a signature comedic tone makes him the perfect choice to bring this beloved book to the big screen,” DWA Feature Animation co-presidents Bonnie Arnold and Mireille Soria said in a statement. “We immediately fell in love with the concept of 'Beekle' and know that Jason will create something truly special from this fantastic source material.”
Reitman added that his daughter liked the book and is happy to work with the studio that made the first film she saw on the big screen, Kung Fu Panda.
Reitman made his feature debut with 2005’s Thank You For Smoking, then earned an Oscar nomination for directing 2008’s Juno and another for 2009’s Up In The Air. Young Adult also earned critical praise in 2011, but his last two efforts - Labor Day and Men, Women & Children - didn’t. Maybe a change of medium will be him back on track.