"Lost tapes" of Orson Welles spark animated film

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Twenty-five years after his death, Orson Welles is back in the movie business.

A rare recording, recently discovered, of the filmmaker narrating a children's Christmas novel is being used as the basis for a film.

It's being produced by Drac Studios, best known as a special effects and makeup shop for movies like "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" but now moving into full-fledged production.

Drac is in development on "Christmas Tails," a 3D live-action/CG hybrid movie to be directed by Todd Tucker and narrated by the legendary filmmaker, who died in 1985.

"It's a movie about how Santa's dog saves Christmas, but on one level, this a story about the discovery of Orson's lost tapes," Drac president Harvey Lowry said. "This is a substantial find. It's something that a filmmaker dreams of."

More than 25 years ago, author Robert X. Leeds self-published a book titled "Christmas Tails," and in 1985 got his friend Welles to narrate it, making five reel-to-reel recordings. The filmmaker passed away a few months later, and apart from Leeds making the occasional copy of a reel to pass along with his book, the recordings stayed on a shelf in a closet of his Las Vegas home.

In December 2008, Lowry was discussing a project with a colleague, Karl Fritz, who mentioned in passing a rumor of the "lost tapes," believed to be Welles' last professional recordings. Eventually Lowry contacted Leeds, who confirmed the tapes' existence and sent them to Lowry's Burbank offices. Lowry heard the distinct voice and began brainstorming.

PUTTING THE PROJECT IN MOTION

"We worked out a deal to option the book, and I got the recordings from him," Lowry said. The tapes were so old, they had to be put through a chemical bath and baking process before they could be digitized. Lowry also had their authenticity verified.

He then approached Welles' estate. "I had the recordings, but that didn't mean I could use them," he said. Deal in hand, Lowry set about getting the movie on track.

In "Tails," Santa's reindeer fall ill, forcing him to consider canceling Christmas. Meanwhile, his dog gathers other canines in the North to help save the day. Matt Thompson wrote the screenplay based on Leeds' book, and Tucker, who directed "Monster Mutt," an upcoming feature Lowry produced, came on board to helm the movie.

Drac, using its expertise in animatronic movie animals, will create the dog heroes and create a fantastical North Pole with computer graphics. The creative team -- Lowry, Tucker, Ron Halvas and creative director Greg Cannom -- has won Oscars for "Bram Stoker's Dracula," "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Benjamin Button" and was nominated for "Titanic" and "The Passion of the Christ," among others.

Welles' voice will be interspersed throughout the movie, much in the way Boris Karloff's voice was used in the 1966 animated version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

Lowry said he already has fielded interest from actors based on word-of-mouth alone.

"People see this as their last opportunity to act in a movie with Orson Welles," he said.

Leeds will serve as a consultant on the movie, and Fritz will be an executive producer. The plan is to shoot in the summer or fall with an eye toward a Christmas 2011 release.

"We're still hoping to do the project we were talking about," Lowry said, referring to his initial plans with Fritz. "But this one took over as priority, you know what I mean?"