Tintin Comes to America on Screen

After Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Tintin -- or rather his new on-screen version -- is coming to the United States, and the boyish-looking reporter could have more of a challenge in his latest adventure.

Steve Spielberg's 3D film "Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn" has already been released in the traditional heartlands of the comic books by Belgium's Herge.

Tintin is not well known on this side of the Atlantic, but the director reckons he'll deal with that challenge as easily as he deals with assorted villains in the stories when the film opens here December 21.

"Tintin is just fun, it is just entertainment, it is just a huge ride I wanted to go on and take everybody with me," Spielberg told a press conference.

It's a film about "about trust and friendship and fidelity to each other."

Actor Jamie Bell, who plays Tintin for the motion capture process, said the youthful hero will be popular with children.

"He is a beacon of excellence for children," he said. "His moral compass is pointing in the right direction."

Spielberg also announced a sequel in New York, saying that "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson would direct the new film and that he had already chosen the Herge book that will serve as the basis for the script.

In the sequel, the comic books' bumbling Thompson detective twins "have a much bigger role," Spielberg said.

This time, Spielberg will produce and Jackson will direct, swapping their roles in "Unicorn."

"It's being written right now and he's directing it after he does 'The Hobbit' and I'll produce it with him as he's produced this with me," Spielberg said.

The first Tintin film will face strong competition from other movies also timed for the holidays including "Muppets," "Hugo," and "Happy Feet 2."