Variety has reported that Universal Pictures has spent a million dollars to snatch up the rights to Doug TenNapel's Tommysaurus Rex graphic novel well before the book is published by Image Comics.  The story of a lonesome little kid who befriends a dinosaur after his dog is killed in a car accident, Tommysaurus Rex has piqued the interest of Tom Shadyac, the director of Universal's hit comedy, Bruce Almighty.

Doug TenNapel, who created the Earthworm Jim TV series, will be an executive producer on Tommysaurus Rex and he is obligated to write a script if Universal desires.  TenNapel's Hollywood batting average is very high--Fox optioned his Creature Tech graphic novel from Top Shelf prior to its publication as well (see 'Fox Options Creature Tech').