"Deadpool" director Tim Miller has already found himself a new project after withdrawing from the upcoming "Deadpool" sequel. It has been confirmed that the filmmaker will work on Sony's film adaptation of SEGA's popular video game franchise, "Sonic the Hedgehog."
Miller will serve as an executive producer on the upcoming live-action/CG-animated hybrid while his Blur Studio collaborator Jeff Fowler will make his feature directorial debut with the project. Miller and Fowler will team up with producer Neal H. Moritz, whose credits include the "Fast and Furious" franchise and "21 Jump Street."
"Jeff is an incredible director with strong story instincts," Miller said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. "The world of Sonic presents the perfect opportunity for him to leverage his experience in animation to bring new dimension to this iconic character."
Miller departed from "Deadpool 2" last week due to creative differences with actor Ryan Reynolds, according to Entertainment Weekly. The exit came as a bit of a surprise as the director was considered as a key contributor to the blockbuster success of the original.
Patrick Casey and Josh Miller, the duo behind the animated television series "Golan the Insatiable," are in charge of the script. Takeshi Ito and Mie Onishi of Marza Animation Planet will join Moritz as producers while Toby Ascher will be on the team of executive producers with Tim.
Dmitri Johnson and Dan Jevons of DJ2 Entertainment have been confirmed as co-producers while Andrea Giannetti will overlook the project on behalf of Sony Pictures Entertainment. The "Sonic the Hedgehog" movie is slated to hit theaters in 2018.
Sonic, the beloved blue hedgehog, has become a popular character ever since its debut in 1991. In the video game universe, the speedster races through levels collecting gold rings as he attempts to defeat his arch nemesis, the evil Dr. Eggman. "Sonic the Hedgehog" games have sold as many as 350 million copies across various platforms over the years.
For more details on the "Sonic the Hedgehog" movie, watch the video below: