Some familiar characters from the Island of Sodor are headed to the big screen.
Mattel Inc. and 2Dux² are developing a new live-action/animated feature film inspired by Thomas & Friends.
Mattel Films will co-produce with filmmaker Marc Forster (Christopher Robin, Quantum of Solace, Monster’s Ball), who will also direct, and Renée Wolfe (Christopher Robin, All I See Is You), co-founder and co-CEO of 2Dux². Mattel Films‘ Robbie Brenner and Kevin McKeon will serve as executive producer and supervising producer, respectively.
“Thomas has been a personal favorite of mine since childhood,” Forster says. “I couldn’t be more excited to be working with Robbie and the entire team at Mattel, and embarking on this beautiful journey with such a timeless property.”
Created as a fictional story for the Reverend. W. Awdry’s son Christopher in 1945, tales of Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends on the Island of Sodor sell more than 2 million books each year across more than 100 titles. Mattel is in the midst of celebrating Thomas & Friends’ 75th anniversary this year with new products from Fisher-Price and a 24th season of the hit TV series, which recently debuted on Netflix.
Alyssa Hill (the upcoming A Taste of Power) and Jesse Wigutow (the upcoming Tron 3) penned the screenplay for Thomas & Friends.
Other Mattel Films in development include titles based on American Girl, Barbie, Barney, Hot Wheels, Magic 8 Ball, Major Matt Mason, Masters of the Universe, View-Master, and Wishbone.
