The Next 'Peanuts' Movie Will Be Released On Apple TV+

The modern home of the catalogue expands its stake with a 'The Peanuts Movie' followup

Four months after Nimona safely survived cancellation thanks to Annapurna Animation, Apple is giving a second vessel to say Blue Sky Never Dies. Sure, they’ve held catalogue rights to the Peanuts franchise since 2018 and produced several new series and specials in the years since, but now they’re taking the next step beyond. The company has ordered its first original animated film from the franchise’s current owners, Wildbrain Studios and Peanuts Worldwide.

The new film, which does not yet have a title, will not only be computer-animated, but done in the exact same style as 2015’s beloved Golden Globe nominee The Peanuts Movie from Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox. Peanuts movies aren’t really “sequels” to each other in the way we think of them, but this next adventure will see Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the rest of the Peanuts gang journey to the big city. Steve Martino will direct the film, produced by Bonnie Arnold, who previously produced Over the Hedge and the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy and co-writer Karey Kirkpatrick. His writing credits include the Chicken Run movies, The Little Vampire, The Spiderwick Chronicles, and Smallfoot. He also wrote the song “Such A Beautiful Day” from Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe. The story comes from The Peanuts Movie’s returning co-writers Craig Schulz, Bryan Schulz (Schulz's son and grandson, respectively) and Cornelius Uliano. The trio has also executive produced many of this era’s Snoopy Presents specials made for the service, including It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown; Lucy’s School; One-of-a-Kind Marcie; and For Auld Lang Syne.

“We can’t wait for everyone to experience this heartwarming new adventure with Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the gang in the big city,” Tara Sorensen, Apple’s head of children’s programming, said in a statement Monday. Craig Schulz chimed in with his own statement saying “It is so special to carry on my father’s legacy with an original story from me, my son Bryan and his writing partner Neil.”

While not Apple TV+’s first original animated film, it is the first animated film announced since ending its partnership with Skydance Animation after just one film, Luck. The studio took its pipeline to Netflix, including its next film Spellbound, which was originally announced for the service. While Disney’s closure of Blue Sky Studios in April 2021 by no means meant there would be no more Peanuts movies, audiences will get to see the style given to the franchise live on elsewhere again, and that is likely very satisfying.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter