Dreamworks has released a trailer for its upcoming fantasy film Rise of the Guardians, which is based on the Guardians of Childhood series by William Joyce.
The film presents a world where the creatures of holiday are not only real, they are mystical warriors, whose job it is to protect children from whatever supernatural threat may emerge. When the boogwyman’s nightmare army emerges to threaten the children of the world, Santa, Sandman, the Tooth fairies, and the Easter Bunny must all work together to combat the menace. Unlike some past stories, these characters will not be fighting with words and lovey-doveyness, they are actual warriors, who will have to kick some ass.
The adaptation had been in development since 2005, and didn’t really start to move until the great success of How to Train your Dragon, when Dreamworks took over the project. The author of the books is deeply involved in the project to the extent that the direction of the books has gone hand in hand with the film.
The first book was only released last year, after the film was well under way. Called Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King, the novel essentially follows the same plot as the film.
The second book, E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth’s Core!, was released earlier this year, and if Rise of the Guardians is successful, we can likely expect a film based on this book as well.
Rise of the Guardians, which stars the voices of Chris Pine, Isla Fisher, Hugh Jackman, Alec Baldwin, Jude Law, and Dakota Goyo, is set to hit theaters on November 21, 2012.
