Sharkslayer (former version of Shark Tale)

Original poster of the film

In 2002, a new film called Sharkslayer was announced and planned a release from DreamWorks Animation, Amblin Partners, Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures with Vicky Jenson (Shrek) and Eric "Bibo" Bergeron (The Road to El Dorado) serving as the two directors before Rob Letterman, who also co-wrote the screenplay,

Plot

It starts off with two human Mafia males dumping a body in the highly polluted waters. The pollution of the ocean causes all the fish to be anthropomorphic and they use the trash as their city. Oscar goes to the Viper Room with Ernie and Bernie the Jellyfish. Oscar gets chased by Frankie who was hit by an anchor. Oscar gets credit for killing Frankie and is labeled a Sharkslayer. Lola stops dating Sykes and starts dating Oscar. She seduces Luca the Octopus and beheads him. Oscar betrays both the fishes and the sharks with Lenny becoming the hero.

Why It Was Cancelled

1. Jeffrey Katzenberg thought the initial Sharkslayer was too bleak and cynical and he fired Mark Swift and Damian Shannon. He hired Michael J. Wilson and Rob Letterman to make the final film more colorful, family friendly and comedic in the style of SpongeBob SquarePants.
2. The title was too scary for younger children. It had been retitled Shark Tale to make the title sound less violent and more family friendly.

Result

• By September 2003, the film would be retitled to Shark Tale which was released in 2004.
• Shark Tale is a more family friendly, comedic and colorful film.

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