(Image source: Deadline)
While Netflix did not succeed in its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Pictures, that doesn't mean the two media giants won't continue to collaborate. Esteemed entertainment journalist Jeff Sneider reported last week on his paid blog, The InSneider, that Warner Bros. has transferred the long-gestating "Sesame Street" live-action film, which has been in development for nearly 11 years, to Netflix for production. Netflix reportedly plans to scrap the previous iteration entirely, starting from scratch with a new creative team and script.
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The journey to bring a new "Sesame Street" film to the screen has been fraught with challenges. The project first entered development in 2012 at 20th Century Fox, with "Real Steel" director Shawn Levy initially attached as a producer. By 2015, the project had shifted to Warner Bros., and Levy was reportedly elevated to director. Six months later, Anne Hathaway was said to be in talks to join the cast.
The film was originally slated for a 2021 release, then pushed to 2022, before being indefinitely stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic. Warner Bros. and Levy even considered shifting its distribution from theatrical to an HBO Max exclusive. However, even after the pandemic subsided, the film remained in limbo.
(Image source: Los Angeles Times)
Sneider recently received industry whispers indicating that the "Sesame Street" movie had indeed been handed over to Netflix. This move follows Netflix's acquisition last year of global premiere rights for new "Sesame Street" seasons, as well as extensive streaming rights for a vast catalog of older episodes, solidifying its position as a key platform for the "Sesame Street" IP. Sneider further revealed that prior to the transfer to Netflix, Warner Bros. had reportedly offered the directing reins to Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, the award-winning duo behind "Everything Everywhere All at Once." It remains unclear whether they will now collaborate with Netflix on the project.
via： The InSneider