The Magic 7

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The Magic 7
Directed by	Roger Holzberg
Written by	Roger Holzberg
Starring	Michael J. Fox John Candy Madeline Kahn Jeremy Irons James Earl Jones Ice-T
Release date(s)	December 19, 2008
Country	USA
Language	English
IMDb profile

The Magic 7 is an animated TV movie written and directed by Roger Holzberg. It centers on the adventures of two children and a dragon as they fight the arch-enemies of Earth. It was originally slated to air on Earth Day (April 22) in 1997, but was postponed. The film was later rescheduled for a 2005 release, but it was once again suspended indefinitely.

Production on the film began in 1990 and has been delayed many times since then. Subsequently, two of the actors who recorded voices for the parts in film are now deceased: John Candy, the voice of Smokestack Sam, died in 1994; Madeline Kahn, the voice of Wastra, died in 1999. Other actors, such as Michael J. Fox, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, and Ice-T, all recorded their voices in the early 1990s.

Pulse Entertainment and Distribution, under the direction of CEO Ron Layton, bought the grand rights to The Magic 7 in 1995 with the intention of fully producing the animation. Songwriter Robert J. Sherman was hired to write additional songs for the film. Sherman also wrote a treatment utilizing the already recorded voices in an improved script. Unfortunately insufficient funds were raised and the project was eventually shelved until the early 2000s when interest was reignited in it.

According to the Internet Movie Database, the movie is planned to be released on December 19, 2008. According to internet rumors in late 2007, John Candy's voice has been removed from the soundtrack with no official announcement on a replacement for Smokestack Sam.