Professional Motion Picture Production and Distribution NEWS

Drake & Josh Star Drake Bell to Headline as Grown-Up Timmy Turner; Also Featuring Victorious Star Daniella Monet as Tootie

Jason Alexander and Cheryl Hines Bring Cosmo and Wanda to Life as Live-Action Characters; Steven Weber Also to Star as Hugh J. Magnate

(Burbank, CA) Nickelodeon has greenlit a live-action television movie adaptation of one of its most popular animated series, The Fairly OddParents, it was announced by Marjorie Cohn, President, Original Programming and Development, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group.  A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner!, based on the hit series from creator Butch Hartman, will combine live-action with CG animation and follow the adventures of a now 23-year-old Timmy Turner (Drake Bell, Drake & Josh) who refuses to grow up in order to keep his fairy godparents.  A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner! is set to premiere on Nickelodeon in 2011, and will be executive produced by Hartman and Lauren Levine, co-executive produced by Scott MacAboy, directed by Savage Steve Holland and written by Hartman and series' former writer Scott Fellows (Big Time Rush).

"It's so much fun to see our animated characters come to life," said Cohn. "And who better to bring grown up Timmy Turner to life than Drake Bell, who himself grew up on our air and still remains one of our most popular Nick stars ever."

"I think fans of the series will love seeing the characters in this new way," said Hartman.  "Our mix of live-action and special effects animation will make them look 'hyper-real' and our goal is to make this movie as visually exciting as it will be funny."

A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner! centers on Timmy Turner, but unlike the series, Timmy is no longer a 10 year old boy -- he is 23, still lives at home and still attends the 5th grade!  Timmy's arrested development stems from his desire to keep his beloved fairy godparents, Cosmo (Jason Alexander, Seinfeld, as live-action Cosmoand Daran Norris, The Fairly OddParents, as animated Cosmo) and Wanda (Cheryl Hines, Curb Your Enthusiasm, as live-action Wanda and Susanne Blakeslee, The Fairly OddParents, as animated Wanda), because "Da Rules" dictates that godchildren lose their fairies when they grow up.  But when Tootie, (Daniella Monet, Victorious) a formerly nerdy girl who's always had a crush on Timmy, returns to town as a gorgeous grown-up, Timmy finds himself having very adult feelings for her.  He must decide whether to grow up and be with the woman he loves, or continue acting like a child to keep the fairy godparents he adores.  In the meantime, Hugh J. Magnate (Steven Weber, Wings, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip), a larger than life oil tycoon, turns his attention to capturing Timmy's fairies and using their power to fuel his maniacal ambition.

Debuting on Nickelodeon in March 2001, The Fairly OddParents has consistently been one of networks' most popular series among both kids and adults, ranking among the top five animated properties on television with kids 2-11.* The series is a solid hit among teens and adults, who make up 57% of its 36 million viewers each month (Source: Nielsen Cume Data – January 2010).

Drake Bell began his career at Nickelodeon with an appearance on the network's popular sketch comedy series, The Amanda Show, a part which led him to star in the break-out hit series, Drake & Josh, as Drake Parker.  Drake & Josh averaged 2.6 million total viewers per episode during its five year run on Nickelodeon.  Bell has also appeared in several feature films such as Jerry Maguire, High Fidelity, Yours, Mine and Ours, Superhero Movie, for which Bell won a Teen Choice Award as Breakout Male, and HBO's The Jack Bull, a role which garnered him a 2000 Young Artist Award for Best Supporting Young Actor in a TV Movie or Pilot.  Over the last several years, Bell has been enjoying success as a popular singer/songwriter having released two albums -- Telegraph and It's Only Time.  Bell has toured throughout the world, including Mexico, where he headlined two sold-out shows at the Auditorio Nacional and his music has topped the charts.

Butch Hartman began his animation career as an assistant animator on An American Tail.  He directed cartoons and created his own shorts for What a Cartoon!, and also wrote and directed episodes of Dexter's Laboratory, Cow & Chicken and Johnny Bravo.  Hartman joined Nickelodeon in 1998 where he created and produced several cartoon shorts for the Oh Yeah! Cartoons series, including The Fairly OddParents.  Hartman is also the creator of Nickelodeon's Danny Phantom and has a new animated series called T.U.F.F. Puppy set to premiere on Nickelodeon later this year.

Resources:

http://www.nick.com