Care Bears will go the way of the Smurfs and star in a live-action feature film from Warner Bros. John Greenbaum (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, Strays) will direct; John Francis Daley (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) is among the film’s many producers. A writer, plot, and genre have yet to be revealed.Â
Care-A-Lot hasn’t appeared in theaters in nearly 40 years; the third film in the animated franchise was The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland, released in 1987. The first Care Bears feature film was released in 1985. Mickey Rooney and Cree Summer were part of the voice cast, and Carole King and John Sebastian, of The Lovin’ Spoonful, contributed several songs for the film. It was followed by Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation in 1986. Many direct-to-video films followed.
The Care Bears IP began in the early 1980s on greeting cards. The characters transitioned to an animated series and were licensed to various products. Today the Cloudco characters star in Care Bears: Unlock the Magic, streaming on Max. Basic Fun! holds the primary license, providing plush characters to the toy aisle.
Greenbaum is directing a Spaceballs sequel for MGM Studios. Many toys and characters are in development for feature films, including Barney, American Girl, Whac-A-Mole, Hot Wheels, and Polly Pocket. The 2023 Barbie film was a resounding success.
