Esteemed animation distributor GKIDS has acquired the North American rights to The Prophet and will release the film this summer.
Based on the writings of Kahlil Gibran (philosopher, artist, theologian, poet), the film is inspired by the 1923 poetry collection of the same name. The film tells, at its heart, the growing friendship of an imprisoned poet and a wayward young girl. The narrative wraparound is written and directed by the legendary Roger Allers who was the co-director of Disney’s The Lion King. In addition to lending her voice to the cast, Selma Hayek also acts as producer. The cast also includes Liam Neeson, Quvenzhane Wallis, Alfred Molina, and JohnKrasinski.
In addition to the central narrative, there are small vignettes throughout that were created by some of the biggest name in animation. They include Paul & Gaetan Brizzi (Fantasia 2000), Tomm Moore (The Secret of Kells), Bill Plympton (I Married A Strange Person), Nina Paley (Sita Sings The Blues), Joann Sfar (The Rabbi’s Cat), Mohammed Harib (Freej Folklore), Joan Gratz (Mona Lisa Descending a Staircase) and Michal Socha (Chick).
Combining elements of 3D, CGI, and traditional hand-drawn animation, the film will not only be a delight visually, but emotionally as well. The Prophet as a book dealt with issues that touched on humanity as a whole and transcended traditional poetry. It’s gone on to sell over 100 million copies and is one of the most read poetry collections of all time, having been translated into over 40 languages.
What do you think about The Prophet? Are you interested in seeing it?
Edited by: Morgan Stradling
