Paramount Player, a film division of Paramount, is moving ahead with its live-action/CG Rugrats hybrid.
The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Diary of a Wimpy Kid director David Bowers has been tapped to direct the forthcoming Rugrats feature. While little is known about the project, it's expected that the babies in this film will be CG creations.
Rugrats began as a popular children's cartoon on Nickelodeon in the early 90's, running from 1991 through 2006. The cartoon centered on a group of babies: Tommy Pickles, Chuckie Finster, twins Phillip "Phil" Richard Bill DeVille and Lillian "Lill" Marie Jill DeVille and Tommy's troublesome cousin, Angelica Charlotte Pickles. The cartoon went on to spawn three animated films produced by Nickelodeon, as well as the spinoff series All Grown Up!, which ran from 2003-2008. This will mark the first time the franchise has received the live-action treatment.
Paramount's plan for a live-action Rugrats film was first announced nearly three years ago, when it was also revealed that Paramount and Nickelodeon would team to revive the popular cartoon with a 26-episode order. Bowers' hiring marks the first official hiring since that initial announcement.
Along with directing all three of the Wimpy Kid films, Bowers is credited as the director on the animated feature Astro Boy, as well as Flushed Away. He will direct the upcoming film from a script by David Goodman, who is perhaps best known for his work on Family Guy and The Orville. Goodman also penned Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost, as well as Fred: The Movie and its sequel, Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred.
The live-action Rugrats film will be directed by David Bowers from a script by David Goodman. It's currently slated to hit theaters on Jan. 29, 2021.