 On 27 October 1999, Aardman and DreamWorks signed a $250 million deal to make an additional four films that were estimated to be completed during the next 12 years.Along with the deal their first project was announced, titled "The Tortoise and the Hare".Intended to be based on Aesop's fable and directed by Richard Goleszowski, it was put on hold two years later because of script issues.