Exclusive: John Lasseter, Disney, Fires Brittany Murphy. Mae Whitman is the new voice of Tinker Bell!
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Oops, Brittany Murphy and Disney…. Don’t look at the below picture, which introduced Brittany Murphy as the OFFICIAL voice of Tinker Bell. In 2006, during a major media PR blitz, Disney rolled out the red carpet for the then hot actress. Flash forward to 2008, as John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney and Pixar, fires alleged cokehead Murphy and gives the Tinker Bell voice job to Mae Whitman.
So how did this all come about? Sherman, set the wayback machine. Here’s our original post on the news, June 20, 2006: “The Walt Disney Co on Tuesday said “Just Married” actress Brittany Murphy will provide the voice for the fairy Tinker Bell in an upcoming animated film, the first in the new Disney Fairies line. Murphy, 28, provides the voice for the character Luanne Platter on the animated TV show “King of the Hill.” Her voice will be the first ever to emanate from the mouth of Peter Pan’s feisty sidekick in a Disney animated film. Murphy, also star of “Uptown Girls” and “Little Black Book,” added: “I’ve had the good fortune of playing many interesting characters, but one as magical as Tinker Bell. To give Tinker Bell a voice for the first time is such an honor.” The direct-to-dvd is due out in 2007.”
And then a funny thing happened on the way to dvd. The Mouse House had a major shake up, in the form of Pixar’s John Lasseter.
So to refresh; Eisner is pissing off everyone, talent, shareholders. Burning bridges with the Weinsteins, Pixar, etc. Eisner is given the boot. Iger is scared, Pixar might find a new home. Steve Jobs is wined and dined. The man from Cupertino sells Pixar to the Mouse — and becomes the Biggest Disney Shareholder.
And John Lasseter is given the keys to the Magical Kingdom. As part of the agreement, the animation genius becomes Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney and Pixar.
Meanwhile, in Hollywood, you’re only as good as your last picture or your boyfriend. In both cases, Brittany Murphy became as cold as a cucumber. Ashton Kutcher dumped Brit for Demi Moore. Brit’s last kinda hit was the suckariffic Little Black Book in 2004! Being in the ensemble cast of Sin City (2005) doesn’t count. From there, she showed up at premieres acting erratic, rumors of drug abuse… And then the creme de la creep…
After four months of dating in 2007, she married a creepy old dude, the shady Simon Monjack.
“Last week, U.S. tabloid the National Enquirer exposed Simon Monjack as an illegal visitor and dug up information suggesting Monjack has a civil judgment against him and a series of felony arrest warrants. But Monjack, who faces a court hearing about his future in America in July and could be kicked out of the country, insists his reputation is being tarnished by people jealous of his success. But Murphy insists she has no problem standing by her man, because she’s confident the reports of his past shady dealings are all “preposterous lies.” - From IMDB
As of Feb, 2007, Brit was still associated with Tinker Bell and Disney. The Mouse House was having great success with their Disney Princess campaign — and wanted to shake that magic fairy dust on their Fairies franchise featuring Tinker Bell… But, Steve Jobs and John Lasseter were not fans of the direct-to-dvd business, thought it diluted the brand — that the terrible quality and plots would ruin the sentiment of the original material. So, Lasseter became involved with ALL Disney animation — and the Tinker Bell movie was pushed to the fall of 2008.
“The Mouse has started ramping up its Fairy fare, which is in stores now, and will keep churning ahead of a “Tinker Bell” movie coming in the fall of 2008, direct to video, with Brittany Murphy voicing Tink. One pic a year will follow for at least four years. The movies are all-CGI, with stories in development. Mooney notes that John Lasseter, chief creative officer at Walt Disney Feature Animation, has taken a keen interest in the sprites. “When you get someone with (Lasseter’s) creativity into the mix, you have unlimited possibilities,” Mooney says.” (from Variety, Feb 10 2007)
Indeed, Tinker Bell went back to the drawing board. Lasseter bumped heads with the direct-to-dvd factory, the shitmeisters that brought us the straight to video classics of Lion King 1 1/2 and Cinderella III. In screening Tinker Bell, Lasseter wasn’t happy with the results. The movie was a mess, and the animators weren’t addressing his notes. June 2007, Lasseter took over the division, sending Sharon Morrill (president of Disney dvd direct) to the curb.
“The key problem apparently stemmed from costs that had ballooned to nearly $50 million on the “The Tinkerbell Movie” project. “Tinkerbell” has seen close to two dozen versions of the script and a dozen different directors. Multiple sources also said that Morrill, who had headed DisneyToons since its inception in 1994, has repeatedly clashed with Pixar Animation toppers John Lasseter and Ed Catmull over creative differences on “Tinkerbell” following Disney’s puchase of Pixar early last year.” (from Variety Jun. 24, 2007)
Tinker Bell was a disaster. The story didn’t work, too many fart jokes and lesbian innuendoes. The CGI was subpar. Most importantly, Tinker Bell herself. The animation and Brit’s vocal work lacked the magic Lasseter expected with this iconic Disney character. And there was a major PR problem - Disney had publicly announced Brittany Murphy AS Tinker Bell. Press releases were sent, pictures taken. It was an embarrassment, the family-friendly company didn’t want to associate themselves with a rumored drug-addled washed-up actress — last known for marrying a shady old guy that looked like her dad.
Then, Lasseter himself flushed everything regarding Tinker Bell, $120 million, down the toilet. And Tinker Bell went dark.
Or so we thought. Fast Forward. April 2008, John Lasseter is hosting a Disney/Pixar Animation presentation in New York. John is showcasing the next 5 years, what’s to come from Disney/Pixar Animation; Bolt, Toy Story 3, Cars 2, Rapunzel and… Tinker Bell.
During the presentation, John shared his passion for Tink. He stated there will be four Tinker Bell direct-to-dvd movies, the first will deal with the origins of Tink. No voice talent was mentioned. No Brittany. Disney presented the below synopsis and a new picture of Tink and her fairy friends:
“Enter the magical world of fairies and meet the enchanting creatures of Pixie Hollow, who “nurture nature” and bring about the change of the seasons. Changing the colors of the leaves, moving a sunbeam to melt snow, waking animals from their winter slumber, or giving a patch of sproutlings a sprinkle of water are all within the realm of these seasonal specialists. Tinker Bell thinks her fairy talent as a “tinker” isn’t as special or important as the other fairies’ talents. But when Tink tries to change who she is, she creates nothing but disaster! With encouragement from her friends Rosetta, Silvermist, Fawn and Iridessa, Tink learns the key to solving her problems lies in her unique tinker abilities…and discovers that when she’s true to herself, magical things can happen.”
But no news on the voice of Tinker Bell. Until May 29th, 2008. Watch the video below, as John Lasseter HIMSELF introduces a clip from Tinker Bell!
At the same time, Disney sent out the below press release, announcing that the new NEW voice of Tinker Bell would be…. Mae Whitman! The 19 year old actress, best known for her voice work on Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Jungle Book 2, Johnny Bravo and Superman. She was also the President’s daughter in Independence Day.
Oddly enough, Mae has something in common with Brittany. Mae was initially cast in NBC’s Bionic Woman, playing the Bionic Woman’s deaf sister. The pilot was shot. However, NBC decided to nix the character of the deaf sister, and recast, reshot the roll with a new actress. But the show sucked anyway and was quickly cancelled. Just a tip, Mae, keep a clean nose and don’t marry a shady old guy. You could have this gig for the next 80 years.
Poor Brittany. We called three times to her representation for a response. The first comment was “what, huh?” and a hangup. The second reply was no comment. The three reply was a simple confirmation that Brittany Murphy is no longer associated with Disney or Tinker Bell.
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Press Release
Walt Disney Pictures Gives a Voice to One of the World’s Most Beloved and Timeless Characters
Tinker Bell
An All-New Movie on Disney DVD and Blu-rayTM Hi-Def October 28 Reveals Tinker Bell’s Origins and the Magical Role of Fairies in Nature
For the first time in history, Tinker Bell, one of the world’s most beloved animated characters, will speak in an all-new original film that reveals many of life’s wondrous mysteries of nature. From two-time Academy Award® winner John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, and the storytellers at Walt Disney Pictures, comes a spectacular, full-length CG animated movie filled with magic and adventure. Tinker Bell takes flight on October 28, 2008 with a treasure trove of captivating bonus features on Disney DVD and Blu-rayTM Disc.
Introducing extraordinary new characters, Tinker Bell is enhanced by an impressive voice cast widely acclaimed for performances on stage and screen. Mae Whitman (Independence Day, One Fine Day) gives Tinker Bell her first true voice, and Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award winner America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) provides the voice of the mischievous Fawn, an animal fairy. Five-time Image Award honoree Raven-Symoné (College Road Trip) fills the illuminating role of Iridessa, a light fairy; Tony® Award winner Kristin Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies) offers the elegant tones of Rosetta, a garden fairy; and two-time SAG Awardee Lucy Liu (Dirty Sexy Money) plays Silvermist, an endearing water fairy. In addition, singer-songwriter Jesse McCartney lends his voice to Terence, keeper of the pixie dust, and Academy Award® winning actress Anjelica Huston (Prizzi’s Honor) reigns over Pixie Hollow as the voice of Queen Clarion.
Long before Peter Pan and the Lost Boys soared into Never Land, the world’s most beloved fairy and her friends were creating their own special magic. For the very first time in film, Tinker Bell opens the doors to Pixie Hollow, a secret hideaway deep in the heart of Never Land, where the Disney Fairies make their home.
Have you ever wondered how a flower gets its color…or pondered the source of a dew drop … or contemplated from where rainbows originate? It’s all the work of fairies! This landmark motion picture from DisneyToon Studios reveals the story of Tinker Bell’s early life in the fantastic world of Pixie Hollow. Each fairy is born with a special talent, whether it’s making flowers grow, giving fireflies their light or tracing beautiful patterns into a winter morning’s frost. Tinker Bell thinks her fairy talent as a “tinker” isn’t as special or important, because tinkers don’t go to the mainland like the other fairies. But when Tink tries to change who she is, she creates nothing but disaster! With encouragement from her friends Fawn, Iridessa, Rosetta and Silvermist, Tink learns that the key to solving her problems is found in her unique abilities … and discovers that when you stay true to yourself, magical things can happen.
Tinker Bell is the first in a series of films featuring the Disney Fairies. The Disney Fairies represent a major initiative across The Walt Disney Company being incorporated into divisions such as Disney Consumer Products, Disney Publishing, Disney Interactive Studios, Disney on Ice, Disney Parks and Resorts, Disney Online and more.
Tinker Bell has a suggested retail price in the U.S. of $29.99 on DVD and $34.99 on Blu-ray. Canadian suggested retail price is $35.99 on DVD and $44.99 Blu-ray.
Blu-ray & DVD Bonus Materials
Exclusive DVD bonus features, including a set top game, a behind-the-scenes “making of” featurette and more are divided into two distinctive menus. The Blu-ray Disc contains all the same bonus features as the DVD, plus all new Disney BD Live Network Incentives!
PIXIE HOLLOW – takes viewers inside the mysterious Fairy world:
MAGICAL GUIDE TO PIXIE HOLLOW – New fairies and visitors to Pixie Hollow get to explore this treasury of pixie lore and discover the ancient realm of fairies with Queen Clarion and Tinker Bell as their personal guides.
TINKER TRAINER DVD ROM – Players hone their skills as a Tinker Fairy in a multi-level suite of four games that will help turn winter into spring. Fairy Mary gives the orders.
“EVER WONDER” – Ever wonder how a rose bursts into bloom? Or how a rainbow stretches across the sky? Or how the morning dew paints a cobweb? “Ever Wonder” shows how fairies put the “wonder” in natural wonders.
THE MAINLAND – explores the making of the movie:
CREATING PIXIE HOLLOW – Discover how the filmmakers created the physical realm of Pixie Hollow along with its history and fairy society.
DELETED SCENES – With filmmaker intros.
DISNEY BD LIVE NETWORK – enjoy enhanced interactive features via your Tinker Bell Blu-ray Disc
Disney’s all new BD Live Network offers Blu-ray owners a host of innovative internet connected features for the global living room. That said, viewers can engage in technologically-advanced web platforms, such as instant messaging, video streaming, online shopping and more, all through their Blu-ray player set top.
For Tinker Bell Blu-ray Disc owners who score high points in the Tinker Trainer Game, they automatically accrue Movie Reward Points, via their BD-Live Network membership, that can be redeemed for Tinker Bell wallpapers and exclusive virtual jewelry their fairy can wear online! Additionally, if the player can collect contraption parts while exploring the Tinker Trainer Game to build, a music box that plays music once all parts are assembled!
DISNEY BD LIVE NETWORK – enjoy enhanced interactive features via your Tinker Bell Blu-ray Disc
Disney’s all new BD Live Network offers Blu-ray owners a host of innovative internet connected features for the global living room. That said, viewers can engage in technologically-advanced web platforms, such as instant messaging, video streaming, online shopping and more, all through their Blu-ray player set top.
For Tinker Bell Blu-ray Disc owners who score high points in the Tinker Trainer Game, they automatically accrue Movie Reward Points, via their BD-Live Network membership, that can be redeemed for Tinker Bell wallpapers and exclusive virtual jewelry their fairy can wear online! Additionally, if the player can collect contraption parts while exploring the Tinker Trainer Game to build, a music box that plays music once all parts are assembled!
STREET DATE: October 28, 2008
Direct prebook: September 2, 2008
Distributor prebook: September 16, 2008
Suggested retail price: U.S. $29.99 DVD, $34.99 Blu-ray
Canada: $35.99 DVD, $44.99 Blu-ray
Rated: This movie is not yet rated
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1, Widescreen adapted for 16×9 televisions
Audio: DVD: Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound
Blu-ray: 48 kHz, 24-bit uncompressed sound, English 5.1 Dolby Digital
Picture/Video: 1080p high-definition (Blu-ray Disc)
Languages: DVD: English, Spanish and French
Blu-ray: English
FastPlay: FastPlay enabled