Is Pixar swiping Bob Zemeckis and ImageMovers?

According to Claude Brodesser-Akner, director Robert Zemeckis may be on the verge of signing a multi-year deal to move from DreamWorks to Disney's Pixar division. He writes:

Seeking entry into 3D animation, Disney paid $7.4 billion to acquire Pixar Animation last January, but that company's chief creative officer, John Lasseter, has been reluctant to tamper with Pixar's venerated tradition of - like Ernest & Julio Gallo - serving 'no wine before its time' - which at Pixar usually means a new film every 18 months or so.



As one insider with knowledge of the ImageMovers negotiations explained, that's not enough for Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook. Said the insider: "Pixar's output is their output, and they feel that the only way they can keep the quality control where they need it is to keep going at the pace they've been going. But [Disney CEO] Bob Iger feels that while Pixar was a good first step into making sure Disney is the preeminent force in animation, it's only the first step."

`Monster House' apparently cost $75 million -- about half of a typical Pixar project. Zemeckis' next project is `Beowulf,' another performance-capture animated movie.