It’s shaping up to be more than a replacement for Harry Potter and will provide a stern test for the people pushing the Narnia movies. The Spiderwick Chronicles not only has a huge fan-base to fall back on but is also racking up one doozy of a cast.
Human grizzly, Nick Nolte is currently in talks to join the project, along with West Wing star Mary Louise Parker, Brit thesp favourite Joan Plowright and miniature gurner Martin Short.
Helmer Mark Waters has already signed up Coyote Ugly actress Izabella Miko and Mannequin star Andrew McCarthy.
The tale is based on the hugely successful novels from Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi about a set of twin boys and their sister who embark on a magical journey into another world – filled with strange creatures and mystical beings.
Nolte is in line to voice an evil shape-shifter called Mulgrath, who is on the kid’s trail, Short is set to play a mischievous character sometimes known as Thimbletack and sometimes Bogart - who can be good or bad, depending on his mood.
Parker will play the kid’s run-down Mum, who has recently parted company with her husband, played by McCarthy. Plowright in the role of an old Aunt who is sectioned due to her tales of the other world.
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory star Freddie Highmore has already snapped up the role of twin brothers Jared and Simon, with Stormbreaker star Sarah Bolger onboard to play big sis, Mallory
Shooting has already started in Montreal, with an eye on a late 2007 release.
