The Emmy-winning legend began writing jokes for Bob Hope before launching the world famous television sitcoms and writing their songs that I now can’t get out of my head. He was working on a big screen Gilligan’s Island when he fell ill last week. He is survived by his wife of 69 years and their four children and the Harlem Globetrotters. (AP)

Charles Roven and Atlas Entertainment have just dropped anchor on their next project, a big-screen adaptation of Gilligan’s Island. The producer of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight has picked up a script by Yogi Bear‘s Brad Copeland to bring the iconic castaways to theaters. There’s no word yet whether the film will veer toward hacky, slapstick comedy or if it will take a gritty, more serious approach to Gilligan’s first year as a bumbling, accident-prone crewman.

Series producer Sherwood Schwartz is also onboard as executive producer and, though no cast or director are in place, feels that terminally typecast actor Michael Cera is a shoe-in for the role of Gilligan. Expect Avatar‘s Joel David Moore‘s aggressive campaigning for the role to begin in 5… 4… 3… 2…

(Variety)