Today in depressing remake news: nation's prayers for a Hong Kong Phooey film finally answered

By Nathan Rabin | July 13, 2009 | 3:58pm

Aux Features Film

According to Variety, seventies cartoon icon Hong Kong Phooey will soon be making the leap to film with the help of Family Guy scribe David Goodman and Dr. Doolittle: Million Dollar Mutts director Alex Zamm. The martial arts-adept canine was voiced by rasptastic character actor Scatman Crothers. Crothers will be unable to reprise his role, having died in 1980 during a freak axe attack while responding to a telepathic distress call.

The film will combine live action and animation. This seems appropriate, since the Hanna-Barbera cartoon "classic" was only partially animated at best. Casting has not been announced; it will be difficult to find actors as stiff, wooden and slow-moving as Hanna-Barbera creations.Might we suggest Scooby Doo's Freddie Prinze Jr.?