The family-friendly movie house known as Walden Media is getting ready to roll on their next nifty project, "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium," which will star Natalie Portman, Dustin Hoffman, and Jason Bateman. First-time director Zach Helm is at the ... helm.

From Variety: "Walden Media will co-finance Mandate Pictures' "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium," the directorial debut of Helm, which stars Natalie Portman, Dustin Hoffman and Jason Bateman. Production will begin at the end of the month in Toronto.

In the pic, Portman plays Molly Mahoney, the awkward and insecure manager of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, the strangest, most fantastic toy store in the world. But when Mr. Magorium (Hoffman), the 243-year-old eccentric who owns the store, bequeaths it to her, a dark and ominous change begins to take over the once remarkable Emporium."