New 'Garfield' animated movie in the works

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Alcon Entertainment has picked up the rights to produce an animated adaptation of the classic "Garfield" comic strip.

Alcon acquired the rights from "Garfield" creator Jim Davis, who will serve as an executive producer, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

The company's goal is to turn the strip-turned-brand into a franchise of computer-generated (CG) animated films.

"Garfield" debuted in 1978, becoming a sensation in the 1980s as the strip took over best-seller lists in the form of collected books. Merchandising and cartoon specials followed.

The character already hit the big-screen in the form of two live-action/CGI hybrids (2004's "Garfield: The Movie" and 2006's "Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties") that featured Bill Murray as the voice of the cat.

The story revolves around a fat, lazy, lasagna-loving cat who never hides his contempt for his put-upon owner, Jon Arbuckle, and fellow pet Odie, a dim-witted dog.

--IANS

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