20th CENTURY FOX ANIMATION, BLUE SKY STUDIOS AND PEANUTS WORLDWIDE ANNOUNCE ICONIC PEANUTS GANG TO HIT THEATERS
Release To Coincide With The 65th
Anniversary Of The Beloved Comic Strip in 2015
Twentieth Century Fox Animation and
Blue Sky Studios have acquired rights to make a feature film based on the late
Charles Schulz’s beloved and iconic “Peanuts” franchise. The agreement is
the culmination of over two years of discussions – focused on the film’s
creative direction – between the Studio and members of the Schulz family.
The announcement was made by Vanessa Morrison, president of Twentieth Century
Fox Animation.
Photo courtesy of Charles M Schulz Creative Associates |
The as yet untitled animated event
will be released on November 25, 2015. 2015 will mark the 65th
anniversary of the debut of the “Peanuts” comic strip and the 50th
anniversary of the landmark television special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
Charles Schulz drew the most popular
and influential comic strip of all time, which was read everyday by 355 million
people in 75 countries. In addition to the famous strip, Peanuts holiday
television specials such as “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” have won
Emmy’s and continue to be among the highest rated prime time TV specials.
Steve Martino will direct the
“Peanuts” feature; previously, he brought to the big screen (with Jimmy
Hayward) Fox/Blue Sky’s “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!” and the recent
box-office smash “Ice Age: Continental Drift.” The screenplay is by Craig
Schulz and the writing team of Bryan Schulz & Cornelius Uliano.
Commented
Vanessa Morrison: "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.”
Craig Schulz, President, Charles M.
Schulz Creative Associates, commented, “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."
“This is a momentous step for the Peanuts brand. The beloved
characters, Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the whole gang resonate with multiple
generations all over the world,” commented Neil Cole, CEO, Iconix Brand Group.
“This film will give us a new medium in which to engage consumers globally and
showcase the power of the Peanuts brand, ” added Cole.
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