Paul Feig, who is best known for directing the raunchy hit comedies Bridesmaids and The Heat, was signed on to produce 20th Century Fox’s upcoming animated Peanuts film.
The film is being made by Fox’s Blue Sky Animation, the same studio behind the Ice Age franchise. It was first announced last fall and in April, the studio announced that it will be produced in 3D. Steve Martino (Ice Age: Continental Drift) will direct with a script by Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz’s son, Craig Schulz and his grandson, Bryan Schulz with Cornelius Uliano.
According to Deadline, Fox set Feig to produce and oversee the project. It is his first animation project for the director, who will also be working on Fox’s Susan Cooper with Melissa McCarthy soon.
“Growing up, Peanuts was my Star Wars,” Feig said in a statement. “Charles Schulz’s characters influenced everything in my career, especially Freaks And Geeks. I’m thrilled I finally get to be pals with Charlie Brown and Snoopy.”
The Peanuts gang includes Charlie Brown and his dog Snoopy, plus Linus (and his blanket), Lucy, Schroeder (Lucy’s ‘Sweet Baboo’) and many other classic characters. The characters remain beloved thanks to the holiday specials ABC airs every year. Schulz landed on Forbes’ list of richest deceased celebrities, making $37 million in the past year.
The Peanuts film is set to be released on Nov. 6, 2015.
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