Promenade to roll out biblical toon

CG 'Commandments' the first of a 12-pic series

By DAVE MCNARY

Yablans

Promenade Pictures -- the family-oriented banner headed by former studio topper Frank Yablans -- has set the release of its first project, a CG-animated version of "The Ten Commandments."

Promenade announced Thursday it will open "Commandments," the first of a 12-pic "Epic Stories of the Bible" series, on Oct. 26 at 500-800 playdates.

Promenade, which has stayed under the radar prior to the announcement, said it's positioned to distribute four to six pics a year from its own slate, acquisitions and service deals with independents. Promenade pics will carry budgets in the $5 million-$20 million range.

Each film in the "Epic Stories of the Bible" series will be produced by Promenade along with partners Huhu Studios of New Zealand and Singapore-based iVL Animation, owned by ST Electronics.

"The Ten Commandments" is narrated by Ben Kingsley, with Elliott Gould voicing God, Christian Slater as Moses and Alfred Molina as Ramses. The film, which has an $11 million budget, is directed by Bill Boyce and John Stronach from a screenplay by Ed Naha ("Honey, I Shrunk the Kids").

Yablans served as the president of Paramount during the 1970s and at MGM/UA during the 1980s. His producing credits include "Silver Streak," "North Dallas Forty," "Mommy Dearest," "The Other Side of Midnight," "The Fury" and "Congo."