MUMBAI: Warner is in final negotiations with writers Austin Winsberg and Heath Corson to acquire a pitch centering on a peacock.

Trevor Engleson and Nicholas Osborne will produce the film via their Underground Management banner while Elishia Holmes will oversee for the studio.

The peacock project is the latest sign that studios are ramping up animation efforts as the category continues to be a bastion of reliability for the major studios in a time of box-office uncertainty.

The move marks the strengthening of animation efforts for Warners which was once very active in the sector but had since scaled back its theatrical efforts. Earlier in 2006, the Studio had developed and produced Happy Feet, the music-themed penguin film directed by George Miller.

Warners, the proud holders of properties like Superman and Scooby-Doo has been producing animation content for television and home video.

Winsberg is a veteran TV writer who has worked on shows such as Jakes in Progress and Still Standing.