PLEASE NOTE: THIS WAS A HOAX!!

Casting has started on the live-action musical version of "The Smurfs," based on the 80's animated series, created by Peyo. Casting directors held open auditions in Los Angeles and New York over the weekend (3/29-30/03). Jeff Goldblum will make his feature directing debut and star as the Smurfs nemesis Gargamel. In 1995 he directed the Oscar nominated live action short "Little Surprises."

The classic Saturday-morning cartoon series featured magical blue elf-like creatures called Smurfs. The Smurfs, named for their personalities, inhabit a village of mushroom houses in an enchanted forest. These lovable creatures are led by Papa Smurf and live carefree...except for one major threat to their existence: Gargamel, an evil but inept wizard who lives in a stone-built house in the forest; and his feline companion, the equally nasty Azrael.

The script follows the Smurfs' efforts to fight off Gargamel, as he tries to smurf the smurf of Smurfette, in order to obtain her magical secrets and gain dignity among the wizard's fraternity. With the help of Brainy Smurf, Papa Smurf is able to smurf a plan to make Gargamel more Smurfy to thwart his efforts to ever smurf again.