Despite the departure last year of acclaimed director Genndy Tartakovsky, Sony Pictures Animation appears to be pushing ahead with its adaptation of "Popeye."

Deadline reports the studio has hired "Ratchet & Clank" video game and film writer T.J. Fixman to pen the 3D-animated adaptation of the classic comic strip. According to the website, the project is a priority for the studio.

Tartakovsky revealed in March that he'd parted company with "Popeye," which has been in development since 2011, because he didn't think his vision for the film matched the studio's.

When the project was announced, it had a script from “Smurfs” screenwriters Jay Scherick and David Ronn that was said to be in line with "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs."