Fox Walden puts 4 films on its 1st calendar

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-05-17 15:40

LOS ANGELES - 20th Century Fox has set the release dates for the first movies made under the new Fox Walden banner.

The label is a partnership between Fox and Walden Media to market films the two co-finance.

First out of the gate will be "The Dark Is Rising," which will be released for the Columbus Day weekend of October 5. The movie, which centers on a young man who learns that he is the last of a group of mythical warriors, stars Ian McShane, Frances Conroy, Christopher Eccleston, Gregory Smith and Jonathan Jackson and is directed by David L. Cunningham. The film is wrapping shooting in Romania.

Walden and Mandate Pictures' co-production "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" is scheduled for November 16. Zach Helm wrote the script and is making his directorial debut on the picture, which stars Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman and Jason Bateman.

"Nim's Island," which goes into production in the summer, has staked out an April 25 release date. Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin star in the movie, about a magical place ruled by a young girl's imagination. The film is being directed by Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett.

Fox Walden is planting a flag on Columbus Day 2008 (October 10) for the sci-fi adventure "City of Ember," which will be directed by Gil Kenan ("Monster House"). The movie is a Walden and Playtone co-production, with Playtone's Gary Goetzman and Tom Hanks producing.