DWA's new slate: Downey Jr., Fey in 'Oobermind' (VAR)

By Nancy Tartaglione

DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg will unveil the studio's slate through 2012 today in New York. Variety reports that the slate includes "Kung Fu Panda" sequels and "Shrek" spinoffs along with original films as the studio ramps up its output to five features every two years. All the films will be produced in 3D.

Among the highlights of the new slate is the casting of Robert Downey Jr. and Tina Fey in "Oobermind," the story of a supervillain who finds life a little dull after vanquishing good-guy rival Metro Man.

Based on a spec script from Ben Stiller's Red Hour Films, "Oobermind" will open Nov. 5, 2010.

DWA's co-president of production Bill Damaschke told Variety that the studio pipeline can now support an additional pic every other year.

"Some people wonder if the market can sustain three animated movies from DreamWorks, and I feel there seems to be room in the marketplace for big event movies the entire family can go to," Damaschke said. "Now that people have grown up on animation, there�s an adult audience for animation."

In 2010, the fourth installment in the "Shrek" series - now titled "Shrek Forever After" - will be flanked by two new properties, "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Oobermind."

"Dragon," starring Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera and Jonah Hill, is set in the Viking world.

The following year brings Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman for "Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom," due out June 3, 2011. Longtime story exec Jennifer Yuh Nelson will make her feature directorial debut on the sequel.

Also in 2011, DWA has "The Guardians," from a not-yet-published book series from William Joyce. Jeff Lynch is attached to direct the film which unites Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, Jack Frost and the Sandman to defend the world from a Bogeyman-like villain.

And, in 2012, DWA unveils "Puss in Boots," an imagining of events before the character debuted in "Shrek 2." Antonio Banderas returns, and Salma Hayek will lend her voice to love interest Kitty. The film is slated for March 30, 2012.

In May, "Madagascar" director Eric Darnell returns with a third installment in the series.

Meanwhile, Katzenberg has staked out a third date that fall for an original feature, to be chosen from a trio of projects currently in development, reports Variety.

The first option is caveman comedy "The Croods," from directors Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco; another is "Truckers," derived from Terry Pratchett�s "The Bromeliad Trilogy" and a third option, tentatively titled "Super Secret Ghost Project" asks what ghosts think about humans.