Spielberg and Hergé were admirers of each other's work; the director acquired the film rights to "The Adventures of Tintin" following the author's death in 1983, and re-optioned them in 2002. Filming was due to begin in October 2008 for a 2010 release, but the release was delayed to 2011 after Universal Pictures opted out of producing the film with Paramount Pictures, who provided $30 million in pre-production; Sony Pictures replaced Universal as co-financer. The delay resulted in Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who had been originally cast as Tintin, departing from the project and being replaced by Bell. The world première took place on 22 October 2011 in Brussels.