Related Resources • "Peter Pan" Movie News and Websites • "Peter Pan" Production News • Movie News/Casting Info • Upcoming Releases • Movie Reviews • Recently Released or New on DVD    Elsewhere on the Web • Universal Pictures • Revolution Studios • Columbia Pictures/Sony

Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures and Revolution Studios have joined forces to create the first live-action version of J. M. Barrie's enduring classic "Peter Pan," which began principal photography this week in Queensland, Australia. Director P. J. Hogan ("My Best Friend's Wedding") and producers Lucy Fisher and Douglas Wick ("Gladiator," "Stuart Little") through their Red Wagon Entertainment are teaming to bring all the thrilling adventure and emotion of this timeless tale to the big screen in ways never before imagined or possible.

One of the revolutionary and defining elements of this adaptation is that for the first time in any version of the tale, the title role of Peter Pan will be played by a boy. The filmmakers conducted a worldwide casting search to find the young American actor Jeremy Sumpter ("Frailty") who will embody Peter Pan. The film also stars Jason Isaacs ("The Patriot") as Captain Hook, Lynn Redgrave ("Shine") as Aunt Millicent, Olivia Williams ("The Sixth Sense") as Mrs. Darling, English newcomer Rachel Hurd-Wood as Wendy, French actress Ludivine Sagnier ("My Wife Is An Actress") as Tinker Bell and Richard Briers ("The Good Life") as Smee. The young British actors Harry Newell and Freddie Popplewell with play Wendy's brothers, John and Michael Darling.

The screenplay, adapted from Barrie's original story by Hogan and Michael Goldenberg ("Contact"), takes its inspiration from Barrie's trademark sophistication and wit. New cutting-edge technologies will allow Hogan and his team to portray the breathtaking and fantastical visuals envisioned in the original material, including Neverland, flying, Tinker Bell, and Peter's legendary battles with Captain Hook.

The Red Wagon Production, with Patrick McCormick also producing, is being executive produced by Mohamed Al Fayed, Gail Lyon and Jocelyn Moorhouse. To fully realize their vision for the film, the filmmakers have brought together some of the best behind-the-scenes experts in the business, including cinematographer Donald McAlpine (Academy Award(R) nominee for "Moulin Rouge"), production designer Roger Ford (Academy Award(R) nominee for "Babe"), costume designer Janet Patterson (three-time Academy Award(R) nominee for "The Piano," "Portrait of a Lady" and "Oscar and Lucinda") and composer James Newton Howard ("The Sixth Sense;" Academy Award(R) nominee for "The Prince Of Tides" and "My Best Friend's Wedding"). Industrial Light + Magic will provide the special visual effects and animation for "Peter Pan," and Scott Farrar (Oscar(R) winner for "Cocoon" and a nominee for "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" and "Backdraft") will serve as visual effects supervisor.

SOURCE: Universal Pictures, Revolution Studios and Columbia Pictures