"Marmaduke" heading to the big screen

[Zoneboy]

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LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – 20th Century Fox must disagree with W.C. Fields' admonition never to work with animals. It's a veritable zoo at the Hollywood studio.

In its latest animal-central project, Fox has signed director Tom Dey to develop a big-screen adaptation of "Marmaduke."

Brad Anderson created the decades-running newspaper comic, which revolves around a mischievous Great Dane who lives with the Winslow family in 1954. The big dog then appeared in several animated episodes of "Heathcliff" and "Garfield and Friends."

The project is in the early stages of development, and the studio declined comment on specifics. It hasn't been decided whether "Marmaduke" will be a live-action film, animated or a mutt.

Fox no doubt registered the huge response to the Fox 2000/Regency Enterprises 2007 hit "Alvin and the Chipmunks," directed by Tim Hill. The family comedy, which mixed live-action human characters and CG-animated rodent protagonists, grossed $358 million worldwide. A sequel, "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel," is in production for a Christmas Day release.

Additionally, Fox 2000/Regency's Christmas 2008 release "Marley & Me," about an ill-mannered but lovable dog and his owners, has grossed $166 million worldwide.

The studio also has "We Bought a Zoo" and the Farrelly brothers' project "Walter the Farting Dog" in development.

Dey directed "Shanghai Noon," "Showtime" and "Failure to Launch."