Only a couple of crumbs of Tintin news this week.

Tintin book targetted over native stereotypes by a school board in Peterborough (America). Whilst I admire their aim to counter stereotypical images of native americans, they seem to miss the point. Tintin in America is racist as were a lot of his early books but Herge was a product of his time and most importantly recognised he was wrong. In later books he went out of his way to show a more sympathetic view of native cultures. Books like Tintin in America should be available to children along with adults who are able to explain the books context.

Simon Pegg once more denies a link to the Tintin movies: Simon Pegg denies Tintin rumours.

Found on Flick: Tintin Art Car

Radical, revolutionary Tintin revealed in Tintin and the Scum

John Hodgman, best known as PC from the Apple adverts and his Daily Show appearances is a fan of Tintin: Best books … chosen by John Hodgman

Tintin is being published in Welsh after an absence of 25 years.

Letters from Herge to his first wife, friends and agent have been sold for £95,000. The letters where owned by his nephew, Georges Remi Jr along with original paintings for the covers, storyboards and sketches.

Full Story: New letters reveal Tintin made his Belgian creator ‘sick’ and Tintin Creator’s Nephew to Auction Sketches

Show Me The Money

After several weeks of uncertainty it seems the Spielberg and Jackson have found financing from a joint venture between Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures. Paramount will be handling the films in the English speaking world whilst Sony deals with what some American web sites refer to as the “foreign” distribution. Given that Tintin is a Belgium comic, written in French and translated into 30+ languages, I think Sony gets the better part of the deal.

Two’s Company, Three’s a Crowd

The Sony/ Paramount deal has raised some questions. Initial reports from the New York Time suggested that the deal only included two films, not the planned trilogy. There has been no official announcement and the reporter behind the NYT story has a reputation of inaccuracy according to some movie blogs. A two film deal makes sense as the idea that the third film would be jointly directed by Jackson and Spielberg always seemed odd.

However most informed coverage of this story insists it will be three films and three films makes sense. A lot of the cost of these films is in the license and the set up for the special effects. Spreading these costs across three films makes financial sense.

Will The Real Tintin Please Stand Up

Though never officially announced as Tintin, Thomas Sangster appears to have pulled out of the project. It seems that the films new shooting schedule falling back to 2009 / 2010, means that Thomas can no longer fit it in.