On 15th November 2007, Universal announced that filming of the Cirque Du Freak movie would begin in February 2008. They also announced the names of the first three actors cast in the movie. Here is one of the many media reports of that announcement.

OBSESSED WITH FILM - 15/nov/2007

by Matt Holmes

Character actor John C. Reilly’s biggest movie of his career opens in December, the Judd Apatow written WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY which is so far splitting it’s potential audience right down the middle.Half of the web thinks it looks genius and will be a continuation of hilariously funny flicks from the guy who brought us SUPERBAD and THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN.

The other half thinks it looks like an absolute dud, with a trailer that missed nearly every comedic beat it went for. A terrible WALK THE LINE parody that looks like it should be starring Will Ferrell in the lead role and not the highly respectable John C. Reilly.

Still, if it’s a hit film with Reilly heavily promoted as it’s lead star, it could see him become a more frequent ‘top billing’ player.

Variety say that Reilly will star in CIRQUE DU FREAK, a vampire movie adapted from the best selling children’s series from Darren Shaun. The film which is being setup at the home of Horror (Universal) will see Reilly star as a vampire who hires a 14 year old girl as his assistant and sucks her into a undead state... to fight on his side in the war between Vampires and Vampanese.

Sounds a little confusing.

The successful series has more than 12 books, all of which have been picked up by the studio.

Paul Weitz, one half of the directing brothers responsible for AMERICAN PIE, ABOUT A BOY and AMERICAN DREAMZ (but not THE GOLDEN COMPASS, which his brother Chris has sole directing credit for) has wrote and will helm the film by himself as his next feature, with production beginning in February.

Chance for Paul Weitz to break away from his brother who could suddenly be propelled to the Hollywood A-List if THE GOLDEN COMPASS is a success. Only problem I have is children’s series turned films like THE DARK IS RISING, ERAGON and STORMBREAKER… no matter how critically acclaimed the source material is, have turned out like a load of crap.