Sony's "Popeye": I Yam What I Yam

Sony Pictures Animation and Arad Productions, report they have hired screenwriters Jay Scherick and David Ronn ("The Smurfs") to write a script for a new "Popeye" stereoscopic 3D animated feature, based on the comic strip and cartoon characters:

"Scherick & Ronn have a remarkable talent in re-energizing beloved characters," said Bob Osher, president of Sony Pictures Digital Productions. "As they demonstrated with 'The Smurfs,' they embrace the iconic characteristics of these timeless characters and craft a story that really engages moviegoers today."

"We're thrilled that Jay and Dave are helping us reintroduce 'Popeye' to a new generation," said Michelle Raimo Kouyate, president of production for Sony Pictures Animation. "Their take on the world of 'Popeye' has just the right blend of comedy, adventure and heart..."

'Popeye the Sailor' was created by Elzie Crisler (E.C.) Segar, debuting in the daily King Features comic strip 'Thimble Theatre', January 17, 1929. Thimble Theatre was carried on after Segar's death in 1938 by several writers and artists, most notably Segar's assistant Bud Sagendorf.

Retitled "Popeye", the comic strip continues to appear in first-run installments in a Sunday edition, written/illustrated by Hy Eisman, with daily strip reprints of Sagendorf's original stories.

In 1933, Max and Dave Fleischer's Fleischer Studios adapted the Thimble Theatre characters into a series of "Popeye the Sailor" theatrical cartoon shorts for Paramount Pictures. The Fleischers and Paramount's Famous Studios, continued production through 1957.

Since then, Popeye has appeared in comic books, television cartoons, arcade/video games, advertisements and peripheral products.

January 1, 2009, 70 years after the death of his creator, the Popeye character became public domain in most countries (but remains under copyright in the US.)

Born in a typhoon off Santa Monica, California, Popeye is a 34-year old, mumbling, squinty-eyed, pipe-smoking sailor with muscular forearms sporting two anchor tattoos.

Continuing characters include his father 'Poopdeck Pappy', who does not share his son's moral righteousness, sweetheart 'Olive Oyl', 'Swee'Pea', an infant left on his doorstep, look-alike nephews 'Peepeye', 'Pupeye', 'Pipeye' and 'Poopeye', hamburger craving 'J. Wellington Wimpy', the magical, orchid-eating pet 'Eugene The Jeep', the villain 'Sea Hag' and 'Alice The Goon'.

From early 1932 onward, Popeye was depicted as eating spinach to become stronger.

He would either squeeze a spinach can until the top opened, or sucked the spinach through his pipe, infusing him with extraordinary strength and making him invulnerable.

Click the images to enlarge…