Reel FX Animation Studios, the company behind the Golden Globe-nominated The Book of Life, has entered into a multi-year, multi-picture deal with the film’s writer and director, Jorge R. Gutierrez. The first animated feature under the deal will be an Untitled Kung Fu Space Western, which Gutierrez will direct from a script he is writing with Douglas Langdale. Reel FX’s Brad Booker will produce the film. Gutierrez and Chatrone LLC will also produce alongside Booker. Sandra Equihua will oversee the character design. Gutierrez has moved to Dallas to work on the project out of Reel FX’s studio.
The Untitled Kung Fu Space Western joins Reel FX’s growing development slate, a few of which are: Monster on the Hill, based on the book by Rob Harrell, written by Matt Lieberman; Giant Girl, based on a pitch by Reel FX story leads Bob Logan and Paul Fisher; and WISH Police, based on a short story by Daniel Nayeri, written by Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris, with Headless Productions attached to direct.
Steve O’Brien, CEO of Reel FX said: “At Reel FX, we are building a home for creative filmmakers to bring their ideas to life. We are excited to partner with Jorge once again as we build on our success with The Book of Life.”
The Untitled Kung Fu Space Western centers on one of the galaxy’s most charming outlaws, the leader of a funny, ragtag crew of rebel bandits that are put on a collision course with a legendary villain to determine the fate of the galaxy.
Jorge Gutierrez added, “Our heartfelt film will be a funny mash-up of some of my favorite influences: ‘90s Kung Fu films, Spaghetti Westerns of the ‘60s, and the epic Space Adventures of the ‘70s, ‘80s and today.”
Reel FX launched its feature length development and production slate in 2010 after almost 20 years of experience as an award-winning one-stop studio for the creation of animated content. The studio’s first full length animated feature film, Free Birds, was released in November 2013 grossing over $110 million worldwide. Its second feature, The Book of Life, was released in October 2014 and is still in the midst of its international run. Reel FX also recently started a virtual reality division, Reel FX VR, dedicated to the creation of virtual reality content. The division will focus on client work for major studios and commercial agencies as well as content needs for Reel FX’s original films.
About Reel FX
Reel FX develops and produces animated films and short form content. The company’s feature slate, released under its Reel FX Animation Studios banner, includes The Book of Life with Twentieth Century Fox which was released in theaters on October 17th, 2014 and an adaptation of the Beasts of Burden graphic novel. Reel FX’s first full-length animated feature, Free Birds, was released by Relativity Media on November 1st, 2013 and grossed over $110 million worldwide.
Based out of Dallas, Texas, Reel FX launched its feature slate in 2010 after 20 years of experience as an award-winning one-stop shop which has created animated content for studios like Fox, Warner Bros., DreamWorks Animation and Universal as well as global commercial agencies and clients. The studio maintains a short form division dedicated to commercials, interactive content, theme park attractions and more.
Since starting the development and production of feature films, Reel FX has aligned itself with some of the most recognized and respected names and brands in the entertainment industry for its projects including The Book of Life (Guillermo Del Toro, Jorge R. Gutierrez), Free Birds (Jimmy Hayward, Scott Mosier), and the Beasts of Burden adaptation (Dark Horse Comics, Andrew Adamson, Aron Warner).