Hot off the heels of last year’s smash-hit, Barbie, it looks like Mattel is gearing up more film projects based on its IP and toys. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Mattel is lining up a new animated movie for Bob the Builder, with Anthony Ramos attached to star in the film. It’s currently in the works from Mattel and Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions.
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Felipe Vargas is writing the script for the upcoming film. Additionally, the animation studio ShadowMachine, the studio behind Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio film is attached to produce the project.
BOB THE BUILDER IS GETTING AN ANIMATED FEATURE
Per the synopsis, Roberto “Bob” travels to an enchanting island of Puerto Rico for a major construction job. After taking on issues affecting the island and digging deeper into what it means to build, Bob will celebrate the island’s vibrant and colorful textures of the Caribbean Latin nations and their people.
ShadowMachine’s Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico from ShadowMachine (Pinocchio, BoJack Horsemen) are producing the project with Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, and Benny Medina producing it under the Nuyorican banner. Ramos is also going to produce the animated feature. At Mattel, Ivan Sanchez and Arturo Thur De Koós are overseeing the picture, while Natalie Haack Flores is overseeing it for Nuyorican.
With Mattel and Warner Bros. Discovery’s Barbie bringing in $1.4 billion and multiple Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, it’s no wonder Mattel is gearing up more film projects like Bob the Builder. The film also earned a Best Adapted Screenplay Award for writer and director Greta Gerwig, and acting nods for America Ferrera and Ryan Gosling.
Other Mattel properties that currently have film projects in development include Hot Wheels at Warner Bros. and American Girl at Paramount. Lindsey Beer is currently writing the American Girl Feature. Ramos is no stranger to starring in films based on toy properties. In 2023, he starred in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts based on Hasbro’s Transformers franchise.
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Bob the Builder is still early in development and doesn’t have a release date yet. It will be interesting to see if it can manage a theatrical release, or if it will go straight to streaming.
About Bob the Builder
Release date: TBA
Directed by: TBA
Screenplay by: Felipe Vargas
Based on: Bob the Builder by Mattel
Produced by: Alex Bulkley, Corey Campodonico, Jennifer Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Benny Medina, Ivan Sanchez, Natalie Haack Flores, and Arturo Thur De Koós
Cast: Anthony Ramos
Synopsis: When Roberto “Bob” travels to the enchanting island of Puerto Rico for a major construction job, he takes on issues affecting the island and digs deeper into what it means to build. Bob’s journey will celebrate the vibrant and colorful textures of the Caribbean Latin nations and their people.”
What do you think of the news? Are you excited that Mattel is ramping up more of its properties for feature films? What do you think of a Bob the Builder movie? Who do you think should direct it? Let us know your thoughts about the news on The Illuminerdi’s social media.
SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter
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