Whatever happened to Iain Softley’s adaptation of Cornelia Funke’s novel? Sure, from the very beginning I’ve been a bit concerned about the fact that Softley is helming Inkheart but it’s been months since I posted the first trailer and not a peep has been heard about the film which stars Brendan Fraser as a bookbinder named Mo who brings characters and items from books to the real world by reading them aloud but when he brings a villain into the world, things go start to go wrong. Co-starring alongside Fraser are Paul Bettany, Jim Broadbent, Helen Mirren, Andy Serkis and Eliza Bennett.

That first trailer looked interesting and the cast and source material certainly suggests this has potential but the film has had nothing but problems with releasing. Originally scheduled for a March 2008 release, in a January press release New Line announced that due to writer’s strike fallout, the film would be pushed to a 2009 release, landing on January 30th. We all know that January through March is typically not prime film going time so this does not bode well for the film but more than that, it’s disappointing that New Line doesn’t feel it can even give the film a Christmas release. Yet, I’ll be patiently sitting back and waiting for a new trailer to come a little later this year.

In the meantime, the folks at Monsters and Critics have a few new photos from the production and I’ve plucked the trailer from near obscurity for your viewing pleasure.

Trailer is tucked under the seat.