The Magic 7 | |
---|---|
Directed by | Roger Holzberg |
Written by | Roger Holzberg |
Starring |
John Candy Michael J. Fox Jeremy Irons James Earl Jones Ice-T Dirk Benedict Madeline Kahn |
Release date
|
December 22, 2008 (France) 2009 (US) |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
December 22, 2008 (France)
The Magic 7 is an animated television film written and directed by Roger Holzberg. It centers on the adventures of two children and a dragon as they fight the arch-enemies of Earth. It was originally slated to air on Earth Day (April 22) in 1997, but was postponed. After later plans for a 2005 release, the film was once again suspended.
Production on the film began in 1990 and has been delayed three times. Subsequently, two of the actors who recorded voices for the parts in film are now deceased: John Candy, the voice of Smokestack Sam, died in 1994; Madeline Kahn, the voice of Wastra, died in 1999. Other actors, such as Michael J. Fox, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Ice-T and Dirk Benedict, all recorded their voices in the early 1990s.Kevin Bacon, Bette Midler, and Judy Collins appear as themselves.
Candy's voice has since been removed from the film, as has Kahn's, and they are no longer being listed as part of the cast. It is unsure if this character was voiced by a new actor, or removed entirely from the film.
Pulse Entertainment and Distribution, under the direction of CEO Ron Layton, bought the grand rights to The Magic 7 in 1995 with the intention of fully producing the animation. Songwriter Robert J. Sherman was hired to write additional songs for the film. Sherman also wrote a treatment using the already recorded voices in a revised script. However, insufficient funds were raised and the project was eventually shelved until the early 2000s, when interest was reignited in it.
However, according to IMDB, the film was eventually released in 2009.