Oriental DreamWorks To Adapt The Tibet Code

The Hollywood Reporter says that DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg has announced plans for Oriental DreamWorks to adapt the immensely popular Chinese book series, The Tibet Code, with a view towards turning it into a franchise.

The series follows "the adventures a two men on the hunt for Buddhist treasures," so DreamWorks will presumably be hoping to evoke Indiana Jones comparisons; the books themselves have been several times compared to the Harry Potter series. The project is to be a collaboration between Oriental DreamWorks, China Film Group and The National Film Fund of China. The commercial potential of the films is huge, particularly so in China, with Katzenberg stating "Tibet Code has all the makings of a world-class, quality, blockbuster franchise."

Oriental DreamWorks is the animation powerhouse's Beijing-based satellite studio, which is currently working on Kung Fu Panda 3. Writing for Tibet Code is set to begin shortly.

Related news: Exciting New Additions to Kung Fu Panda 3 Voice Cast

Exciting New Additions to Kung Fu Panda 3 Voice Cast

The Hollywood Reporter says that Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Rebel Wilson (Pitch Perfect) and Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale) have all joined the cast of DreamWorks' martial arts-threequel in unspecified roles.

DreamWorks Working on Puss in Boots 2; Kung Fu Panda 3 and Trollhunters Details

Producer-extraordinaire Guillermo del Toro recently spoke to Collider about DreamWorks' latest film, Rise of the Guardians, which he executive produced, and offered up some quotes on two of DreamWorks' upcoming sequels, Kung Fu Panda 3 and Puss in Boots 2, as well as an original film he's developing for the studio, Trollhunters.

Kung Fu Panda 3 to be a US/Oriental DreamWorks Co-Production

News broke today that Kung Fu Panda 3 is set to be a co-production between DreamWorks' Glendale studio and the newly established Oriental DreamWorks, with a view to a worldwide 2016 release date.

This is a smart move by DreamWorks to take advantage of the very lucrative Chinese market; the Chinese government only allow a certain number of foreign films in per year, and this dedication bodes well for the Shrek house's chances. It's also a move that works thematically given the heavy oriental influences (as well as the setting) of the Kung Fu Panda films.

On a more personal note, I'm very excited for the Panda threequel. Admittedly, DreamWorks don't have the best track record with sequels and I was pensive about Kung Fu Panda 2 at the start, but, frankly, they've severely upped their game in the last few years and have barely put a foot wrong since 2010. I adored 2 (review here) - see this year's A113Animation Awards for proof - and it set up well for 3, and my anticipation for it hasn't lessened much since I first saw the second film last year.

They have a string of great original projects (Rise of the Guardians, Me and my Shadow, etc...) coming up, and a decent line up of sequels; at this point, I have a lot of faith in DreamWorks.