DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. DWA today announced that Kevin Lima (Enchanted, Tarzan) will direct the upcoming feature film Monkeys of Mumbai(working title), the studio‘s first-ever Bollywood-style animated musical adventure.
Lisa Stewart (Turbo, Monsters vs. Aliens) and Chris Chase (Enchanted, Tarzan) will serve as producers on the project. As previously announced, Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Prince of Egypt, Enchanted) is serving as executive producer and lyricist, A.R. Rahman (127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire, Bombay Dreams) is serving as executive producer and composer, and Gurinder Chadha & Paul Berges (Bride & Prejudice, Bend It Like Beckham) are writing the feature project.
“Kevin is a brilliant director and someone we‘ve long wanted to work with at DreamWorks Animation,” said the studio‘s Chief Creative Officer, Bill Damaschke. “We are thrilled to welcome him, Chris and Lisa on board to round out the excellent creative leadership team on Monkeys of Mumbai.”
“Ever since Enchanted, I‘ve been looking for a film musical and when DreamWorks Animation approached me with the prospect of doing a Bollywood musical with such renowned collaborators, I knew this was the one,” added Kevin Lima.
Inspired by the great Indian epic tale of The Ramayana – but retold through the point of view of its monkeys – Monkeys of Mumbai revolves around two common monkeys who become unlikely heroes in a last ditch effort to stop an ancient, thought-to-be-mythical demon from conquering the world. The project is being overseen at DreamWorks Animation by development executive Chris Kuser.