Since he co-directedThe Lion King, Rob Minkoff hasnt made a full-on animated film since.
Mr Peabody & Shermanbrings him back to animation though, and he spared us some time to chat about.
Heres how our chat went… At one stage it was said to have a live action element to it.
Can you talk us through how it got to this point?
So the very first conversations were about that.
So we got started in 2005.
Clearly not on a fast track!
Thats a good thing though isnt it, to a degree?
That we had a draft of the screenplay that everyone liked.
Turned out from then to now its changed dramatically Id say.
For a couple of reasons.
We had to find a new writer.
The writers who had written the draft sold a TV show that they had to go away to produce.
And so we brought in Craig Wright.
So was the focus on a father and son story the eureka moment?
That you had the core mechanic you needed to make the film work?
Well, father-son, the fact that he was originally adopted, was part of the original show.
So that was a given.
And in the original draft, that character was a boy.
We changed it to a girl and it really made a difference.
Thats the huge challenge.
They go across so many points in history, but how do you see to it the core works?
For us, it was the case of adding the girl.
Because she was going to affect Sherman in unexpected ways that would further the relationship between father and son.
The pressures of the world would come to bear on their relationship.
And we thought probably not!
Father and son films have a particular appeal to me.
So were there particular touchpoints you were looking at to tighten the dynamic there?
You know, its interesting.
I think we were mostly basing it on the source, because theres something unusual in the relationship there.
Mr Peabody is a very smart character, a genius, so accomplished in many ways.
And yet hes a bit reserved.
In the original show, and use this, when he adopts him, Sherman calls Mr Peabody dad.
Its not a great movie…
No, its not!
You know, not particularly.
It was a concern to me a little bit.
You dont want it to be compared, and its extraordinarily different.
So I suppose we just closed our eyes and pretended it didnt exist!
Any film that has Stephen Toblowsky and Allison Janney in its voice cast is off to a great start.
So did you record much of your cast together here?
And what challenges did you face recording with a young child over a prolonged period of time?
Well, we didnt record together, but thats kind of what you do in animation now.
So what about recording a child, who has a major part in the film?
Because his dialogue must have been recorded over several months?
It wasnt over several months, it was over several years!
There was always a concern about that.
Which was unusual with child actors.
So that was our biggest challenge.
And it was funny, because he has become a better actor through the course of working with us.
Hes working quite a lot hes on a television show, and hes acting regularly.
How immune are you now to the whole process of this?
Youve done one film in particular thats absolutely revered with The Lion King.
But youve done others that people have been sniffy about, and havent fared as well.
Youve seen the full spectrum of how reactions have gone.
How do you deal with that?
Is it possible to shut the highs and the lows out, to keep going?
Something that you havent done before particularly.
You know, its the fortitudes of this business!
Youve avoided pigeonholding throughout your career.
But you broke the barrier between animation and live action very early.
And now youve gone from animation, to live action, and back to animation.
So why did you make the choices you did?
What other options did you have?
I think I was interested in live action.
I was actually developing the sequel toRoger Rabbitbefore I was doingThe Lion King.
Id got my start as a director on theRoger Rabbitshorts.
Would I read it, then come in to discuss directing the whole movie.
Eventually they decided to shelve the project.
I still hear rumours about it…
They keep coming around, yes.
It will come around.
It definitely should come around, for sure.
So what was in the script you were working on?
That was one of the problems.
This one was about Roger Rabbit trying to find his mother.
That was the conceit, that somehow shed gone to Hollywood, and hed find her there.
Then it turned into something likeSunset Boulevard!
Do you get frustrated when other people make sequels to your films?
Because you did the first two Stuart Little movies, and then there was a third.
Then there was a pair of Lion King follow-ups…
Yeah.
Yes, in the case ofThe Lion King, it wasnt really a common thing to do sequels.
And the sequels that were made were done as direct to video movies.
Return Of Jafar changed the whole mechanic for them there.
I actually know the guy that pitched the idea to Disney of doing those direct to video sequels.
Do introduce him to us!
It wasnt really part of the conversation as it were, at the time!
Which brings us back to Mr Peabody & Sherman.
Are these characters you want to spend more time with?
Yes I do, yeah.
I loved the coming into the project, and feel that weve expanded on them in a good way.
So I hope to do more.
Last question: whats your favourite Jason Statham movie?
My favourite Jason Statham movie?
Were doing our bit for British action cinema here.
Er,The Transporter?
Rob Minkoff, thank you very much.
