Zemeckis' ImageMovers inks deal with Universal

ZemeckisRobert Zemeckis has signed a two-year first look deal to bring his ImageMovers Digital shingle over to Universal, where he'll get back into creating live-action pics in addition to the motion-capture animation he's been focused on in recent years.IMD, which Zemeckis founded in 1997 and Walt Disney Studios acquired in 2007, was without a home since the the Mouse House decided last March not to reup their deal.Run by Zemeckis and his business partners Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey, Imagemovers had been producing mocap pics such as "The Polar Express" and "A Christmas Carol" -- but was also behind box-office dissapointment "Mars Needs Moms," which grossed only $40 million worldwide.Sources say that the deal would have Zemeckis developing both live-action and motion-capture pics for Universal. IMD would not move to the Universal lot, however.Even with Imagemovers being shut down, Zemeckis has stayed busy circling several projects, including "Flight" at Paramount starring Denzel Washington. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com