Producers Jon Shapiro and David Kirschner contacted Margret Rey in 1990 about the possibility of producing a film based on the classic children's stories that she wrote with her husband, H. A. Rey. Shapiro recalled: "I promised I would be responsible to her and the character for finding others like myself who wanted to make the best version of "Curious George" possible." Rey agreed and Imagine Entertainment secured the film rights for "Curious George" in June 1990, with plans to produce a live action film jointly with Hanna-Barbera Productions.