Producers happy Gondry helming 'Hornet'

CULVER CITY, Calif., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- The producers of "The Green Hornet" say they couldn't be happier that French filmmaker Michel Gondry is set to direct their movie.

Gondry is in negotiations to direct the film starring Seth Rogen and Stephen Chow, it was announced Tuesday by Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach, presidents of Columbia Pictures. The screenplay is by Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who will also executive produce. Neal H. Moritz will produce the film through his Original Film production company. The film will begin shooting this summer and is set for release June 25, 2010. It will be executive produced by Michael Grillo.

"From the very beginning, Seth, Evan and Neal wanted this film to stand out from the pack with its originality. You couldn't ask for a better director than Michel Gondry to bring that to life," Tolmach said in a statement.

"We're huge fans of Michel Gondry. 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' and all his films are as daring as they are extraordinary, fueled by creative ideas that spring from his unique worldview," Moritz added. "Our first rule, always, is to make the movie that we want to see, and that couldn't be truer than with Michel bringing his stylish and original touch to the helm."

"I'm very excited about 'The Green Hornet' and all that I hope to bring to it," Gondry said. "This story has always been close to me and now Seth and Evan have written a script that is both funny and real -- the best of both worlds. I cannot wait to further collaborate with them on it."