Smurfs 3 to be fully animated film

Peyo's mischievous blue creations were last seen on the big screen in 2013's The Smurfs 2

The third Smurfs film will be a wholly computer-animated affair that will take the popular cartoon characters in "a completely new fresh direction".

"We're not making a Smurfs 3 film," said its director Kelly Asbury.

"Our story will explore the beginnings of the beloved little blue creatures in a fun full CG-animated comedy-adventure for every generation to enjoy."

The August 2015 release will follow two live action/CGI "hybrids" in which the Smurfs interacted with human actors.

The new film, Asbury added, "will be stylistically closer to the original artwork created by Peyo".

Peyo was the pen name of Pierre Culliford, the Belgian comic book artist who in 1958 created Les Schtroumpfs, as they are known in their home country.

Katy Perry voiced Smurfette in the first two Smurfs films

Asbury's previous films include 2011's Gnomeo & Juliet and 2004's Shrek 2, which he co-directed with Andrew Adamson and Conrad Vernon.

Released in 2011, the first Smurfs film made $142.6m (£85.6m) in the US and Canada and more than $563.7m (£338.4m) worldwide, according to the Box Office Mojo website.

Yet its 2013 follow-up did not perform as strongly, making just $71m (£42.6m) in North America and £347.5m (£208.6m) in total.

It is not known whether US singer Katy Perry will return to provide the voice for Smurfette, the only female in the fantasy village where her mischievous species reside.

Sony Pictures Animation has also announced plans for a fully computer-generated return of spinach-eating sailor Popeye, to be directed by Genndy Tartakovsky of Hotel Transylvania fame.