Calling all ‘90s kids! Get ready to take a trip down memory lane as these iconic cartoons and comic characters will be getting brand new films!
From talking toddlers to high-flying acrobatic vigilantes, here are two animated films we have our eyes peeled for!
Live-Action Rugrats Film
Believe it or not, Rugrats is making its way back to the big screen! That’s not all; it was also confirmed that the beloved ‘90s Nickelodeon cartoon will be receiving an (almost) live-action coat of paint.
Variety reported that the film will feature CGI versions of all our favourite toddlers, and it is said that it might be akin to that of the “Pokémon: Detective Pikachu” and “Sonic the Hedgehog” films. Of course, this idea will undoubtedly unnerve people, especially since CGI might work well on fluffy fictional animals, not so much as fully-realised versions of Tommy Pickles, Chuckie Finster, and Phil and Lil Deville, but I digress.
It has been further confirmed that all that’s left to film is realistic versions of the toddlers. However, due to the method phrasing, this heavily implies that the filmmakers have already found their actors and actresses – but as to who they are, nothing is known for now.
Speaking of filmmakers, we can confirm that the project is being spearheaded by Saturday Night Live cast members. Mikey Day and SNL head writer Streeter Seidell wrote the screenplay, while “Pitch Perfect” filmmaker Jason Moore will be in the director’s seat.
This is not the first attempt at a live-action “Rugrats” movie, though. When this project was first announced in 2018, David A. Goodman, the writer of Family Guy and Futurama, was credited with writing the screenplay. The original release date was set for 13th November, 2020. David Bowers, known for his work in “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” quietly announced that he’d direct the film in 2019.
In 2021, Paramount debuted a CGI Rugrats revival on Paramount+. After a 24-episode season, the series received the green light for a second season that premiered in 2023, but was unexpectedly pulled from the service earlier this year.
Nickelodeon has found a lot of recent success with bringing back some of its iconic IPs, much like when the cartoon titan brought back “Dora the Explorer” for 2019’s “Dora and the Lost City of Gold.” However, they need to keep an eye on how the studio will execute the film, lest it become another “The Last Airbender” film.
DC Studios’ “Dynamic Duo”
Though Nickelodeon might be cooking something up to tickle our nostalgia, they aren’t the only studio that will be revisiting the world of animation, as DC has stated that it will once again start making animated movies, the first of which is the newly-confirmed “Dynamic Duo.”
Although we have not seen what exactly James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Studios has been working on, it has already revealed plans for yet another major film centred on (two of) Gotham’s heroes.
Last night, Gunn took to his X account to announce that DC Studios is partnering with the newly-founded New Orleans-based studio Swaybox to produce “Dynamic Duo.” Gunn further confirmed that the film will feature ”a mix of animation, puppetry, and CGI.” If you follow Cartoon Network, back when it was still alive, this feels as though we might see a movie that is in a similar vein to a famous kid’s cartoon show “The Amazing World of Gumball,” but obviously grittier and more violent.
The screenplay is said to be done by Matthew Aldrich (known for his work in “Coco” and “Lightyear”), while Swaybox cofounder Arthur Mintz will take on directing duties. The story will focus on the early days of Dick Grayson and Jason Todd (two of Batman’s many Robins) working together as acrobatic vigilantes.
Despite Reeves’ participation and the triumph of his HBO spinoff “The Penguin” recently, Deadline reports that “Dynamic Duo” will not have any connection to the film universe of “The Batman” in 2022. “Dynamic Duo” is reportedly going to go all-in on Swaybox’s signature “Momo animation” — a style that blends CGI and practical stop-motion with physical acting.
Source: X, Entertainment Weekly, The Verge
