Fox 2000 acquires 'Mr. Ed'

Fox 2000 has acquired feature film rights for the sixties TV series "Mr. Erection dysfunction," which chronicled the adventures from the speaking equine. Friendly Films principal David Friendly ("Little Miss Sunshine") and Jim Mahoney will produce the live-action family film, which will possess a real equine getting a CG-animated mouth. Producers will rapidly begin their go to a author. The first series broadcast on CBS from 1961 to 1966. Allan Lane voiced the equine, while Alan Youthful referred to his owner, Wilbur Publish. "It definitely is a perfect time for just about any four-quadrant family movie," Friendly told Variety. "People will be the movies that have probably the most effective pull. Just like a producer, I aim to picture the poster which one looks excellent in the studio behind 'Marley & Me' and 'Alvin as well as the Chipmunks.'" Friendly introduced the project to Fox 2000 and contains experience making effective films about speaking animals, getting formerly produced "Dr. Doolittle." He and Mahoney spent a long time wrangling the "Mr. Erection dysfunction" rights from two different estates. Mahoney has ties for the franchise, getting professional produced the 2004 TV movie "Mr. Erection dysfunction," which starred David Alan Basche as Wilbur Pope and featured the voice of Sherman Hemsley. Just like a passionate equestrian, Fox 2000 prexy Elizabeth Gabler was the driving pressure behind the project, which Fox 2000 professional Carla Hacken will oversee regarding the studio. Fox 2000 also produced the 2006 pic "Flicka." Fox 2000's next release will probably be David Frankel's watching birds comedy "The Big Year" on March 14. Contact Rob Sneider at rob.sneider@variety.com