Twentieth Century Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studios (Ice Age franchise) have just announced they’ll be making a movie based on the comic strip Peanuts, which was written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz.
A November 25, 2015 release date for the movie has been set, and it’ll be directed by Steve Martino (Ice Age: Continental Drift) and written by Craig Schulz and Bryan Schulz, who are Schulz’s son and grandson.
Here are some quotes from the press release:
Said Fox Animation’s 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, said, “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.”
Said Iconix Brand Group CEO Cole: “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. This film will give us a new medium in which to engage consumers globally and showcase the power of the Peanuts brand.
Peanuts had 17,897 strips published in total between 1950-2000, and at its peak it ran in over 2,600 newspapers, with a readership of 355 million in 75 countries. You can see why 20th Century Fox have been trying to secure the film rights for 2 years, and the fact members of the Schulz family are involved with producing and writing is a good signs for fans.
