Untitled Marc Forster Thomas & Friends film
Directed byMarc Forster
Written by
  • Alyssa Hill
  • Jesse Wigutow
Based on
Produced by
Production
companies
CountryUnited States
United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The untitled Marc Forster Thomas & Friends film is an upcoming British-American live action animated family adventure film, directed by World War Z and Christopher Robin director Marc Forster, Based on the British children's book series The Railway Series by The Rev. W. Awdry, and its televised adaptation Thomas & Friends. It will be the second worldwide theatrical Thomas & Friends film after 2000's Thomas and the Magic Railroad.

According to Forster, "Thomas has been a personal favorite of mine since childhood... I couldn’t be more excited to be working with Robbie and the entire team at Mattel, and embarking on this beautiful journey with such a timeless property."[1]

Plot

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Executive producer Robbie Brenner has stated that Thomas' story in the film will be told in a "modern and unexpected way."[1]

Production

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Background

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The first theatrical Thomas film Thomas and the Magic Railroad released in 2000 was a critical and commercial failure,[2] Because of this, Thomas & Friends series creator Britt Allcroft was forced to resign from her company The Britt Allcroft Company in September 2000 and her company was renamed to Gullane Entertainment.[3] HiT Entertainment acquired the company two years later, including the television rights to Thomas & Friends.[4]

File:Poster for The Adventures of Thomas.jpg
Poster for The Adventures of Thomas, the cancelled second attempt to make a second theatrical Thomas film.

Before the announcment of Forster's Thomas film, previous attempts had been made to make a second worldwide theatrical Thomas film. The first was in 2000, when it was reported that Destination Films began development on a sequel to Thomas and Magic Railroad, but it was quietly cancelled due to the film's failure.[5] The Adventures of Thomas was another attempt, announced on June 8, 2011, with 9 director Shane Acker directing, with Weta Digital designing the film's visual effects.[6] but nothing new about the project has been announced as of 2018.

Announcement

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In October 6, 2020, Mattel announced that Marc Forster would be directing an upcoming four quadrant film based on Thomas & Friends in a new storytelling method not used prior in the franchise.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Anthony D'Alessandro (October 6, 2020). "Thomas & Friends New Movie In The Works From Mattel Films & Marc Forster's 2Dux²". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  2. ^ Michael Thomson (July 13, 2000). "Films - review - Thomas and the Magic Railroad". BBC News. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  3. ^ "Britt Allcroft quits as Thomas flops". The Guardian. September 8, 2000. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  4. ^ "Gullane succumbs to HIT's advances". The Guardian. July 5, 2002. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  5. ^ "All Aboard: A Caboose-Full of Partners Hypes Thomas the Tank Engine's film debut". chiefmarketer.com. July 1, 2000.
  6. ^ Fleming, Mike. "'9' Helmer Shane Acker Boards Feature Based on the Thomas The Tank Engine Toys". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 1, 2011.

Category:American films Category:American children's adventure films Category:British films Category:British children's adventure films Category:Films directed by Marc Forster Category:Films set on trains Category:Films with live action and animation Category:Mattel Television films Category:Thomas & Friends