Twentieth Century Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studios have acquired the rights to make a feature film based on the late Charles Schulz’s iconic Peanuts franchise. The agreement is the culmination of over two years of discussions between the Studio and members of the Schulz family. The announcement was made today by Vanessa Morrison, the president of Twentieth Century Fox Animation.
The currently untitled animated featured will hit theaters November 25, 2015. 2015 will mark the 65th anniversary of the debut of the Peanuts comic strip as well as the 50th anniversary of the landmark television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas. This isn’t the first time that the Peanuts have hit theaters though. A Boy Named Charlie Brown earned over $6 million in theaters back in 1969 followed by three more features.
Charles Schulz Peanuts is regarded as one of the most influential comic strips of all time, and was read daily by roughly 355 million people across 75 different countries. Peanuts wasn’t only just a comic strip though. It has been adapted in the past into animated features that have gone on to win Emmy’s such as a It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
The animated feature will be directed by Steve Martino, who has directed Horton Hears A Who! as well as Ice Age: Continental Drift. The screenplay will be done by Craig Schulz and the writing team of Bryan Schulz & Cornelius Uliano. Craig Schulz and Bryan Schulz, who are the late Mr. Schulz’s son and grandson, along with Uliano are producing.
Twentieth Century Fox Animation director of development Ralph Millero worked very closely with Morrison and with the Schulz estate in securing the rights to the property.
Craig Schulz commented on the project:
“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.”
Source: LA Times