Peter Chernin and Universal Pictures are headed to the ballet, nabbing a pitch from writers Jon Gunn and John Mann that’s a spin on “The Nutcracker” story.
Chernin is on board to produce along with Dylan Clark through his Chernin Entertainment shingle.
All three developed the pitch.
The Tchaikovsky ballet, adapted from a E.T.A. Hoffman’s short story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” was first performed in the 19th century.
Though Chernin has a deal with Fox, this will mark the second project he has come on board to produce for Universal.
Chernin is also producing “Oblivion” for Universal starring Tom Cruise, a project seen as a high priority for the studio.
Gunn and Mann are currently working on the Paramount “Magic 8 Ball” pic and the DreamWorks animated pic “Boo U.” with Seth Rogen lending his voice to the project.
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The last Nutcracker pic to hit plexes, Andrei Konchalovsky’s 2010 “The Nutcracker in 3D,” grossed just $195,459 in the U.S. and another $14 million overseas, though it was budgeted at approximately $90 million.
Chernin’s next project is Fox’s “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” set to bow on Aug. 5.
Gunn and Mann are repped by WME and Mosaic.
