New Line Cinema has put its feature project “The Nutcracker” into turnaround, a person with knowledge of the situation has confirmed to TheWrap.
Adam Shankman was expected to direct this new take on the classic fairy tale in which a young girl is taken on an adventure by a toy soldier who comes alive.
The film had been seen as a holiday tentpole film for 2013.
The script was written by Darren Lemke (“Shrek Forever After”). Temple Hill’s Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen were producing.
Sources familiar with the situation pointed out that Shankman has a busy schedule and that New Line did not necessarily want to embark on another music-oriented project at this point.
Shankman has worked with New Line a number of times, most recently “Rock of Ages." Starring Tom Cruise, Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin and Julianne Hough, the adaptation of the stage musical was released in June and made around $56 million worldwide. Shankman also made “Hairspray” with New Line.
Shankman had also been expected to direct the Warner Bros. film “This is Where I Leave You.” Last month it was confirmed that Shawn Levy would take on directing duties for that film.
