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'Scooby-Doo' director takes on 'Smurfs' movie
Raja Gosnell to helm live action/animated project

Raja Gosnell has signed on to direct the live action/animated hybrid "Smurfs" movie for Columbia Pictures and Sony Animation.

Those involved with the movie are already experienced with the medium. Jordan Kerner ("Charlotte's Web") is producing while J. David Stem and David N. Weiss ("Shrek 2" and "Shrek the Third") and Audrey Wells ("George of the Jungle") wrote the script.

Gosnell's addition only complements the team. The editor-turned-director is best known for helming "Scooby-Doo" and "Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed," as well as last year's Beverly Hills Chihuahua." The movies combined live actors and settings with photorealistic animated talking animals such as dogs and rats. Turning his attention to the small blue characters created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo was the next step.

Kerner, who has been developing the project for the past seven years, said: "With Raja coming aboard, we now have a brilliant director who has proven time and again that he has a deft touch in blending the worlds of physical comedy and honest emotion with both live action and photo-real animated characters. Our three-apple-high heroes are in good hands, and we feel absolutely positively Smurfy to be working with him."

The film will be released in 3D and 2D formats on Dec. 17, 2010.

The logline is being kept under wraps, but the story is expected to feature well-loved characters such as Papa Smurf, Smurfette and the villainous Gargamel.

Gosnell, repped by CAA, also directed the romantic comedy "Never Been Kissed" as well as comedies "Big Momma's House" and "Yours Mine and Ours."