'Smurfs' movie in the works

LOS ANGELES, June 10 (UPI) -- Hollywood's Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation said they are working on a big-screen adaptation of the beloved animated series "Smurfs."

Variety.com said the movie about a community of tiny, blue human-like creatures would be a combination of live-action and animation.

David Stem and David Weiss, who wrote the second and third installments of the "Shrek" franchise, are in talks to write the "Smurfs" script, the entertainment industry trade paper said.

The animated series was based on characters created in 1958 by Belgian cartoonist Pierre Culliford, known professionally as Peyo.

The Smurfs first appeared in a series of Belgian comic books and inspired a line of figurines, games, toys, theme parks, as well as the TV series, which ran as part of NBC's Saturday morning lineup from 1981-90, Variety.com said.

"The Smurfs are one of the best-known franchises, and among the most beloved collection of characters in the world," Columbia Co-president Doug Belgrad said. "We're very excited to introduce a new generation to Papa Smurf, Smurfette and the other smurftastic Smurfs in all of their 'three-apple-tall' glory."