“King of the Elves” is rearing its head again at Walt Disney Animation Studios, with “Horrible Bosses” scribe Michael Markowitz tapped to pen the latest script for the toon.
Project is an adaptation of a Philip K. Dick short story about a band of elves and one dwarf living in the Mississippi Delta who tap a human as their king after he saves them from an evil troll.
Chris Williams, co-director and writer of “Bolt,” is shepherding the project.
The Mouse House originally wanted to produce the pic for a 2012 release, under the helm of Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker (both behind “Brother Bear”), but the project was put back into development to flesh out the story further shortly after Pixar’s John Lasseter took the reins of Disney’s toon division as chief creative officer in 2006.
Project was unveiled in 2008, alongside “Wall-E,” as an upcoming animated feature on Disney’s sked. “Rapunzel,” retitled “Tangled,” was also introduced at the time, as was Pixar’s “The Bear and the Bow” (now “The Brave”) and “Newt” (which has since been shelved).
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With “Wreck-It-Ralph” now on Disney’s slate for Nov. 2, 2012, “King of the Elves” is being eyed for a holiday 2013 bow, after “Monsters University” aims to scare up box office that summer.
Lasseter is producing the pic with Chuck Williams.
In addition to “Horrible Bosses,” which Warner Bros. releases July 8, Markowitz has written for the TV sitcoms “Becker,” “In-Laws,” “It’s All Relative” and “Bob Patterson,” on which he also served as a supervising producer.
Markowitz is repped by CAA, Heroes and Villains Entertainment and attorney Michael Gendler.
