GeekTyrant reports that Westbrook Studios – a production company launched in 2019 by actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith – will adapt a graphic novel called Canto into a feature-length animated film.
Canto is a fantasy adventure story loosely inspired by L. Frank Baum’s Oz novels. The titular protagonist is one of the tin-people from the land of Arcana whose hearts were replaced by clocks. Canto falls in love with a Tin Girl, whose clock gets damaged beyond repair by a group of slavers. This sends Canto on a quest not only to save Tin Girl’s life but to restore hearts to all of his people as well. Along the way, he will meet new allies and enemies and experience the wondrous sights of Arcana.
First published in June 2019 by IDW Publishing (Locke & Key, Usagi Yojimbo), Canto was co-created by writer David M. Booher and illustrator Drew Zucker. Booher has been hired to produce the screenplay and serve as an executive producer alongside Zucker. The first story arc of Canto has had six issues. There are plans for new story arcs ahead.
