India breathes life into Spielberg's rabbit

With new funding from India, Oscar winner Steven Spielberg is ready to move ahead with production and we all shall be able to see six-plus foot invisible rabbit Harvey in the near future.

Indo-American Rajan Zed says they were glad to see the legendary director back in filmmaking. Spielberg has not reportedly produced after Transformers since separating from Paramount Pictures.

Deal with India's Reliance on Monday breathed life back into Spielberg's dormant DreamWorks Studios and he can now start directing Harvey.

Spielberg's directorial project Harvey is remake of Oscar winner James Stewart (The Philadelphia Story) starring 1950 film based on Mary Chase Pulitzer Prize-winning play, about amiable and eccentric bachelor Elwood P Dowd and his friendship with imaginary Harvey. Oscar nominated Henry Koster (The Bishop's Wife) directed the 1950 Harvey, which won an Oscar and a Golden Globe.

It is reportedly a co-venture between the new DreamWorks, Disney and 20th Century Fox. Spielberg and Don Gregory (Fire in the Dark) will be the producers. While casting and pre-production is expected to begin immediately, the production will begin in early 2010.

As Oscar winner Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump) has reportedly said no to the role of the polite Dowd, Spielberg will be looking for another likable top-notch leading actor who can convincingly talk to the invisible rabbit.

Text: ANI | Photograph: Alessia Pierdomenico/Reuters