Deadline has just announced that Fox animation and Blue Sky Studios, will be taking Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang and turning them into an animated film franchise. FOX has not only acquired the rights, but they’ve already set a premier date of November 25, 2015. The 65th anniversary of the comic strip, and the 50th anniversary of the TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas.
The deal has been in the works for two years. The film will be directed by Steve Martino, who had previously directed the “Dr. Seuss’ adaptation Horton Hears a Who!” and “Ice Age: Continental Drift.”
Here’s what FOX animation had to say:
“We are thrilled to partner with the Schulz family and Iconix and honored to bring the Peanuts characters to the big screen. This all started with our love and respect for the work of Charles Schulz. We thank the Schulz family and Iconix for letting Fox and Blue Sky bring his vision to new generations of film goers.”
Here’s what Craig Schulz, President, Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates had to say:
“We have been working on this project for years. We finally felt the time was right and the technology is where we need it to be to create this film. I am thrilled we will be partnering with Blue Sky/Fox to create a Peanuts movie that is true to the strip and will continue the legacy in honor of my father.”