Miramax has toon tuner under 'Thumb'

Wood, Hewitt to voice main characters

By MONICA ROMAN

NEW YORK -- Miramax Films has acquired worldwide distribution rights to the animated musical fairy tale "The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina."

The roles of the two tiny people will be voiced by Elijah Wood ("The Faculty") and Jennifer Love Hewitt (TV's "Party of Five").

Miramax acquired the project from Hyperion Studios.

Glenn Chaika will direct the original screenplay by Willard Carroll ("Playing by Heart") that features characters created by Hans Christian Anderson.

Will Finn ("Falsettos") is writing the music.

"Hyperion has a long history of quality animation, and I'm happy that we're teaming up with them on this extraordinary project," said Jason Blum, Miramax senior vice president for acquisitions and co-productions. "We've put together a tremendous cast to lend their voices to this film."

Among the thesps whose voices will be featured in the film are Alex Boyd, Peter Gallagher, Rachel Griffiths, Robert Guillaume, Jane Leeves, Esai Morales, Bebe Neuwirth, Emma Samms and Jon Stewart.

The film is being produced by Tom Wilhite, who produced "Playing by Heart" with Carroll and Meg Liberman, and Hyperion Studios. Blum and Elizabeth Dreyer, Miramax director of acquisitions, are overseeing the film's production for Miramax.

The acquisition was negotiated on behalf of Miramax by Blum and Andrew Herwitz, senior vice president for acquisitions and business affairs. Attorney Wayne Alexander of Alexander, Nau, Lawrence & Labowitz repped the production.