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D'Works puts pen to 'Puss'

Studio is contemplating a direct-to-video release

By DANA HARRIS, NICOLE LAPORTE

D'Works hired scribes for 'Puss in Boots,' based on the Antonio Banderas-voiced character from "Shrek 2."

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DreamWorks has hired scribes Ed Decter and John Strauss to write the animated pic "Puss in Boots," based on the Antonio Banderas-voiced character from "Shrek 2."

The studio is contemplating a direct-to-video release.

The exact storyline of the film is unclear at this point, but the movie will focus on the swashbuckling kitty voiced by Banderas. The role was self-referential to the Spanish thesp's role in "The Mask of Zorro" and won critics' hearts.

Although no deal has been signed, it is likely Banderas would return to voice the character.

Direct-to-DVD animation films is a wildly lucrative business, as Disney has proven many times over, with its sequels to "The Lion King," "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Little Mermaid."

Decter and Strauss wrote Disney's "The Lizzie Maguire Movie" and the recently-wrapped "Rebound," the basketball pic Steve Carr is directing at Fox. They are also writing and producing "The Jane Plan" at Disney.