Producer: 'It's finally a reality'

Work has started on story ideas for The Simpsons movie, one of its producers has revealed.

Mike Reiss said he thought the long-anticipated big-screen version "is really gonna happen" - but probably not for two years or more.

He revealed that the makers of the TV series had been planning a film since the second series, but only now was the project taking off.

He told the DVD Fanatic website: "It's been 13 years of wanting to do The Simpsons movie. Finally Fox said, 'Let's just do it!'

"We never had the greatest idea that was compelling but Fox said, 'Maybe if we start paying you, you'll get inspired.' And sure enough it worked

"We've got a very good and interesting idea and it's different from the show. It's like the South Park movie where it's just a bigger, longer, amplified version of the show. I can't tell you anything specific - my wife doesn't even know the secret.

He added that the movie would probably come out in the second half of 2006, adding: "It's a reality after being just sort of this phantom idea."

Published: 12 Feb 2004