Elton's 'Gnomeo' cartoon a no-go

LOS ANGELES - The Elton John movie "Gnomeo & Juliet," an animated musical based on William Shakespeare's tragic romance, is no longer in production at Walt Disney Feature Animation.

John was producing the movie about small star-crossed lovers through his Rocket Pictures banner, and was engaged to write the songs.

"Gnomeo" was Disney's second animation collaboration with John following 1994's "The Lion King," which featured John and lyricist Tim Rice's Oscar-winning "Can You Feel the Love Tonight."

The crews at Walt Disney Feature Animation who were in production on the project have been reassigned to other projects, a Disney spokeswoman said.

John recently appeared in support of "Gnomeo" at the Walt Disney Studios Showcase in September when the studio offered members of the press a sneak peek of its slate through 2008. John marked the occasion by playing "Crocodile Rock" on a trademark red piano.

Walt Disney Feature Animation's film slate is under close review following Disney's purchase of Pixar Animation Studios, the firm behind the "Toy Story" movies. Pixar executives John Lasseter and Ed Catmull are reviewing the Disney slate while simultaneously developing new animated titles.

- REUTERS/Hollywood Reporter