ImageMovers

History

South Side Amusement Company (1984–1997)

On March 1, 1984, Robert Zemeckis incorporated and founded the company as South Side Amusement Company. The company was in-name only from the beginning.

In the early 1990s, Zemeckis signed a production deal with Universal Pictures, to produce films under the South Side Amusement Company banner. There, it is one of the producers of Death Becomes Her, Trespass, The Public Eye and The Frighteners while Zemeckis 1997 film Contact was produced with Warner Bros. Pictures.

Early years as ImageMovers (1997–2007)

In 1997, it was announced that South Side Amusement Company was rebranded as ImageMovers, and hired Creative Artists Agency employee Jack Rapke and producer Steve Starkey (who was a producer on Zemeckis's films since his stint as associate producer on 1988's Who Framed Roger Rabbit) came on board to join the company. It was also announced that ImageMovers signed a non-exclusive feature film deal with DreamWorks Pictures.

In 2001, ImageMovers tried to sign a deal with Warner Bros., but they ultimately failed. After the Warner Bros. deal collapsed, ImageMovers reupped a first-look deal with DreamWorks to produce more films from that time.

ImageMovers's first eight films under the name were What Lies Beneath (with Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer), Cast Away (with Tom Hanks), Matchstick Men (with Nicolas Cage), The Polar Express (also with Tom Hanks), The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (with Julianne Moore), Last Holiday (with Queen Latifah), Monster House (with Mitchel Musso, Sam Lerner, Spencer Locke, and Steve Buscemi), and Beowulf (with Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, and Angelina Jolie).

Disney/ImageMovers Digital (2007–2011)

The Walt Disney Company

In 2007, ImageMovers collaborated with The Walt Disney Company to establish ImageMovers Digital (IMD). Based in two converted aircraft hangars in Marin County, this joint venture based film focused on producing animated films using motion-capture.

IMD's first film, A Christmas Carol, was released on November 6, 2009. Based on the Charles Dickens novella of the same name, it starred Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright, and Cary Elwes, each in multiple roles.

On March 12, 2010, Disney announced that IMD would cease operations following the completion of its second film, Mars Needs Moms. This resulted in the layoff of approximately 450 employees. Walt Disney Studios president Alan Bergman said, "Given today's economic realities, we need to find alternative ways to bring creative content to audiences and IMD no longer fits into our business model."

Prior to its shutdown, IMD had several projects in development, including an original film titled Calling All Robots, a remake of Yellow Submarine, a sequel to Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and an adaptation of The Nutcracker. All were scrapped due to the disastrous box-office performance of Mars Needs Moms.

Universal Pictures (2011–present)

In August 2011, it was announced that ImageMovers had entered a two-year first-look producing deal with Universal Pictures.

Filmography

Feature films

Television series (Compari Entertainment)

ImageMovers' first foray into television production was The Borgias, which aired on Showtime from 2011 to 2013. On August 25, 2016, Compari Entertainment, the company's television division, was founded, with NBC's Manifest, which premiered on September 24, 2018, as their first television series.

Unreleased projects

''[[Yellow Submarine (film)#Cancelled CGI remake|Yellow Submarine]]''

This motion-capture remake of the 1968 Beatles film was developed by Robert Zemeckis. Disney canceled the project due to the box office failure of the Zemeckis-produced motion capture film Mars Needs Moms and aesthetic concerns about the technology. After its cancellation at Disney, Zemeckis then tried to pitch the film to other studios, before eventually losing interest in the project.

''Calling All Robots''

On March 26, 2008, Michael Dougherty was set to direct the animated sci-fi adventure film Calling All Robots with Zemeckis producing the film through ImageMovers Digital for Walt Disney Pictures.

[[Who Framed Roger Rabbit#Proposed sequel|''Roger Rabbit'' sequel]]

In December 2007, Marshall stated that he was still "open" to the idea, and in April 2009, Zemeckis revealed he was still interested. According to a 2009 MTV News story, Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman were writing a new script for the project, and the animated characters would be in traditional two-dimensional, while the rest would be in motion capture. However, in 2010, Zemeckis said that the sequel would remain hand-drawn animated and live-action sequences will be filmed, just like in the original film, but the lighting effects on the cartoon characters and some of the props that the toons handle will be done digitally. Also in 2010, Hahn, who was the film's original associate producer, confirmed the sequel's development in an interview with Empire. He stated, "Yeah, I couldn't possibly comment. I deny completely, but yeah... if you're a fan, pretty soon you're going to be very, very, very happy." In 2010, Bob Hoskins stated he was interested in the project, reprising his role as Eddie Valiant. However, he retired from acting in 2012 after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease a year earlier, and died from pneumonia in 2014. Marshall confirmed that the film would be a prequel, similar to earlier drafts, and that the writing was almost complete. During an interview at the premiere of Flight, Zemeckis stated that the sequel was still possible, despite Hoskins' absence, and the script for the sequel was sent to Disney for approval from studio executives.

''The Nutcracker''

On November 26, 2009, Zemeckis had signed on to produce and direct the motion capture animated film adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker through ImageMovers Digital for Walt Disney Pictures. On July 21, 2016, Universal Pictures revived the adaptation, which may or may not use motion capture, with Zemeckis only set to produce the film and Evan Spiliotopoulos was hired to write the script. There has been no information since.

''How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack''

On April 14, 2011, Zemeckis had signed on to produce and potentially direct the live-action/animated hybrid film adaptation of Chuck Sambuchino's book How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack along with The Gotham Group and Sony Pictures Animation. In November that year, Chad Damiani and JP Lavin were hired to write the script.

''Tooned Out''

On October 29, 2019, at the HBO Max launch event, it was announced that a live-action/animated hybrid TV series featuring Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera characters to be produced by Warner Bros. Animation, the series was in development after it was announced as Tooned Out, to be released on the then upcoming WarnerMedia streaming service. Zemeckis teamed up with Jared Stern to write the series. The last known update of the series was in 2022 with no other announcements as of 2025.

References

References

1. "Secretary of State".
2. Busch, Anita M.. (1997-06-18). "Zemeckis, Rapke wrap up DreamWorks deal".
3. (2001-12-28). "Zemeckis migrates to Warner".
4. (2002-04-19). "Imagemovers stands its ground".
5. (2002-04-21). "Inside Move: Zemeckis shingle gets new run".
6. (February 5, 2007). "Disney, "Polar Express" director in animation deal". [[Reuters]].
7. Eller, Claudia. (2010-03-13). "Disney to shut ImageMovers Digital studio". Los Angeles Times.
8. Finke, Nikki. (March 12, 2010). "Disney Closing Zemeckis' Digital Studio".
9. Graser, Marc. (March 26, 2008). "Michael Dougherty calls 'All Robots'". [[Variety (magazine).
10. The Walt Disney Studios. (September 11, 2009). "The Walt Disney Studios, The Beatles' Apple Corps Ltd., and Oscar(R)-Winning Filmmaker Robert Zemeckis Dive Into New Magical 3D Adaptation of the 1968 Classic Yellow Submarine". [[PR Newswire]].
11. Ditzian, Eric. (November 3, 2009). "EXCLUSIVE: Robert Zemeckis Indicates He'll Use Performance-Capture And 3-D In 'Roger Rabbit' Sequel". [[MTV]].
12. Rowles, Dustin. (November 11, 2009). "Robert Zemeckis to Uglimate The Nutcracker". Pajiba.com.
13. Kit, Borys. (March 14, 2011). "Disney torpedoes Zemeckis' "Yellow Submarine"". Reuters.
14. Fleming, Mike. (August 2, 2011). "Universal Makes Two-Year Deal With Robert Zemeckis' ImageMovers". Deadline.
15. (May 17, 2015). "Tom Rothman's High-Wire Act at Sony Pictures". The New York Times.
16. (January 24, 2020). "Robert Zemeckis Closes Deal To Direct & Co-Write Disney's Live-Action 'Pinocchio'".
17. Stephan, Katcy. (March 29, 2024). "Robert Zemeckis’ ‘Here’ With Tom Hanks and Robin Wright Lands November Release".
18. "COMPARI ENTERTAINMENT Trademark of ImageMovers, L.L.C. – Registration Number 5649739 – Serial Number 87150678 :: Justia Trademarks".
19. (September 18, 2009). "Borgias to replace 'Tudors'?".
20. (January 23, 2018). "Robert Zemeckis-Produced Thriller 'Manifest' Scores NBC Pilot Order".
21. "About Netflix – NETFLIX LAUNCHES MEDAL OF HONOR CELEBRATING EIGHT MEN WHO WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY".
22. (May 26, 2017). "History to open Blue Book with Robert Zemeckis".
23. (August 17, 2018). "Renée Zellweger to Star in 'What/If' Netflix Series from Mike Kelley".
24. Kit, Borys. (March 14, 2011). "Disney torpedoes Zemeckis' "Yellow Submarine"". The Hollywood Reporter.
25. (December 27, 2012). "Robert Zemeckis Gives Up On the 'Yellow Submarine' Remake".
26. Graser, Marc. (March 26, 2008). "Michael Dougherty calls ‘All Robots’".
27. Shawn Adler. (September 11, 2007). "''Roger Rabbit'' Sequel Still In The Offing? Stay Tooned, Says Producer". [[MTV]] Movies Blog.
28. Eric Ditzian. (April 29, 2009). "Robert Zemeckis 'Buzzing' About Second 'Roger Rabbit' Movie". [[MTV]] Movies Blog.
29. "EXCLUSIVE: Robert Zemeckis Indicates He'll Use Performance-Capture And 3-D In 'Roger Rabbit' Sequel". Moviesblog.mtv.com.
30. (July 20, 2010). "Toontown Antics – Roger Rabbit's adventures in real and animated life: Roger Rabbit 2 – In 3D?". Toontownantics.blogspot.com.
31. "Exclusive: The Lion King To Go 3D! | Movie News". Empireonline.com.
32. (August 8, 2012). "Bob Hoskins retires from acting". Itv.com.
33. "Frank Marshall Talks WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT 2 Sequel, THE BOURNE LEGACY, THE GOONIES 2, More".
34. Fischer, Russ. (October 15, 2012). "Despite Bob Hoskins' Retirement, the 'Roger Rabbit' Sequel is Still Possible". [[SlashFilm.
35. Rowles, Dustin. (November 26, 2009). "Robert Zemeckis to Uglimate The Nutcracker".
36. Rowles, Dustin. (July 21, 2016). "Evan Spiliotopoulos Tapped To Write "The Nutcracker" For Robert Zemeckis And Universal (EXCLUSIVE)".
37. Snieder, Jeff. (April 14, 2011). "Sony Animation, Zemeckis dig ‘Gnome'".
38. Fleming, Mike Jr.. (November 7, 2011). "Robert Zemeckis Sets Writers For 'Garden Gnome Attack' Film".
39. (October 29, 2019). "HBO Max Sets New Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Robert Zemeckis Hybrid Series 'Tooned Out', More for Kids & Family Slate".