A sequel to last year’s animated movie, “Open Season” is in the works. But it will be released diret to DVD by Sony Pictures Animation. “Open Season 2″ is reported to have started production with a 2009 probable release.

The first installment of the animated film didn’t really do well in theatres however Sony felt that it did well on DVD, thus the decision of having the sequel released direct to DVD.

Sequel will focus on one of the original pic’s supporting characters, Mr. Weenie, a domesticated dachshund who escapes to join the rebellion of forest animals.

Sony is still in talks with “Open Season’s” lead voices, Martin Lawrence and Ashton Kutcher, and it’s not yet clear whether their characters will appear in the sequel. Mr. Weenie was voiced by Sony animator Cody Cameron.

In order to reduce costs for a homevid-only project, Landau said Sony expects to do much of the production work at satellite offices for its Imageworks f/x house opening in India and New Mexico.

Pic will also be distributed across a variety of digital platforms.

Move comes soon after Disney, which pioneered the lucrative business of direct-to-DVD sequels to animated features, decided to stop making them.

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