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The purple dinosaur Barney is getting the Barbie treatment. The character will be turned into a live-action film by Mattel and A24, and it has already found a key element in its success.

A24 has a long history of thought-provoking and critically acclaimed projects, and Mattel is still riding high on 2023's Barbie success. The two joined forces for an adaptation of the purple dinosaur Barney, with Daniel Kaluuya’s 59% Productions. Per A24, Ayo Edebiri has joined the project as a screenwriter, and she is currently in talks to star in the film.

Related'What an Honor': Rachel Zegler Sees the Bright Side of Fan Backlash Over Snow White Remake

Rachel Zegler shares her thoughts on the backlash against her live-action Snow White movie.

The actress and comedian has been acting for a long time but her breakout role was the one of Sydney Adamu in FX's hit series The Bear,...

Momentum is gaining on A24’s live-action Barney movie from Mattel Films and Daniel Kaluuya’s 59% Productions, as the companies have set Emmy and Golden Globe winner Ayo Edebiri to write the screenplay and also have her in talks to star.

First announced in 2019, the film’s plot is being kept under wraps. Kevin McKeon and Andrew Scannell are overseeing for Mattel Films, with Robbie Brenner producing for Mattel, along with A24, as well as Kaluuya and Rowan Riley for 59% Productions.

A purple dinosaur who has been a staple of children’s television for decades, Barney was first introduced to the world via direct-to-video series Barney & the Backyard Gang in 1988, breaking out as a global sensation with the series Barney & Friends, which aired for 14 seasons on PBS between 1992 and 2010.

In a July 2023 interview with The New Yorker, Mattel exec Kevin McKeon revealed that the live-action Barnie would be adult-oriented and “surrealistic,...

Ever since Mattel Films' Barbie raced to $1.4 billion at the worldwide box office, the floodgates have opened for what appears to be a whirlwind of other such toy-based projects on the cinematic horizon. From a Bob the Builder production set to star Anthony Ramos and a Hot Wheels movie from Warner Bros. to upcoming projects for Polly Pocket, Uno, and Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, it's clear that Barbie's impact on the film world is as yet unquantifiably large.

The beloved children's character is returning in a Bob the Builder movie, and there are already many exciting updates about the upcoming animated feature. Debuting in 1999 in the UK, Bob the Builder follows the titular construction worker as he teams up with his anthropomorphized equipment to teach youngsters crucial problem-solving skills. With the familiar catchphrase "Can we fix it? Yes we can!", Bob and friends didn't take long to make their way across the pond, becoming one of the most famous children's programs of the new millennium.

Across its lengthy original run, and continued in a slew of spinoffs, TV movies, and reboots, the popularity of Bob the Builder hasn't waned, and it is still a viable franchise. Though the 2015 CGI reboot was met with some criticism for its stark departure from the original, it still managed to run for three seasons before eventually ending. The property was sold to...

Bob the Builder is heading to the big screen, courtesy of Amazon and Jennifer Lopez, here are the details.

We can’t be the only ones who never expected to type the words Bob The Builder and Jennifer Lopez in the same sentence, but here we are.

Background first. Bob The Builder began life as an animated television series, created by Keith Chapman in 1990 – Chapman went on to create the hugely successful Paw Patrol. Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey voiced the titular character for a whopping eighteen series between 1999 and 2011. It followed the jovial Bob and his anthropomorphic building manchines as they solved construction problems around the villiage.

Can We Fix It?, the show’s earworm of a theme song written by Paul K. Joyce, even made its way to the top of the charts, beating Westlife’s What Makes A Man to Christmas number one in 2000.

The rights...

Jennifer Lopez has taken an interesting project under her wing! Her Nuyorican Productions is set to be at the helm of one of the most anticipated movies, i.e., Bob The Builder! The classic cartoon character has certainly been influential, and a generation of kids have grown up watching it.

Jennifer Lopez | Credits: MTV International via Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

So, turning it into a novel animated film might just be the hit of nostalgia they need to reminisce over the good old days. But before any announcements about its potential release or even a short teaser, the project is already being criticized!

Jennifer Lopez’s New Bob The Builder Version Anthony Ramos in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts | Hasbro

The upcoming film isn’t just about building things. It intends to be an exploration of the rich Puerto Rican culture (via Deadline). And at the heart of the movie is Anthony Ramos,...

Si se puede! Amazon MGM Studios is ready to strap on its tool belt after winning a bidding war for Mattel’s animated Bob the Builder movie! While the ink has yet to dry, we hear Amazon beat Dreamworks Animation and others looking to lay the foundation of an ambitious rework of Bob, the beloved general contractor with a passion for construction and learning. The Bob the Builder movie hails from Jennifer Lopez’s production studio, Nuyorican Productions, and ShadowMachine, the animation house behind Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio, Tuca & Bertie, Moral Orel, Robot Chicken, and more.

The project reimagines Bob the Builder with Anthony Ramos in the lead role. Bob’s latest adventure is set in Puerto Rico. The story celebrates the resilience and spirit of Latino culture, and the new setting offers much to Bob’s outreach and influence.

Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico of ShadowMachine join Ramos for the high-profile animated project,...

A new Bob the Builder movie is now officially in development at Amazon. The classic construction had its roots in the late 1990s as a classic British television series featuring the titular fixer upper. The original stop-motion animated series ran for 18 seasons and nearly 300 episodes, going off the air in 2012. Bob the Builder featured a leading voice cast including Rob Rackstraw, Kate Harbour, Neil Morrissey, Lorelei King, and Alan Marriott. Since the initial series, Bob the Builder has also gotten the CGI animated treatment in a reboot show and the special Bob the Builder: Mega Machines.

As per Deadline, a new Bob the Builder animated feature film will now be officially developed at Amazon MGM Studios. The studio has reportedly won an intense bidding war that also included Netflix and DreamWorks. The Mattel project will now be produced by Nuyorican Pictures and ShadowMachine.

More to come...

Source: Deadline...

Exclusive: Sources are telling us that Amazon MGM Studios has won the bidding war for Mattel’s animated feature Bob the Builder which had Netflix, DreamWorks Animation and others vying for the project. Not all deals are complete, I understand.

Bob the Builder is being produced by Jennifer Lopez‘s Nuyorican Productions and ShadowMachine (who were behind Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio) and it stars Twisters actor Anthony Ramos in the title role. It was Ramos’ idea to deliver a Bob the Builder set in Puerto Rico, in a story that’s about the resilience of the Latino culture. He is a producer on the film. Bob’s motto in Spanish: “Si se puede” aka “Yes we can.” Felipe Vargas is adapting. Tbd on whether the movie is for Prime or the big screen.

Lopez isn’t currently in talks for a voiceover role in Bob the Builder, I understand.

Michelle Mendelovitz has stepped down from her role leading Mattel TV Studios, TheWrap has learned.

Mendelovitz, who joined the toy manufacturer in November 2023, served as head of Mattel TV Studios for just nine months before departing the role. A representative for Mattel did not provide further comment regarding her departure.

During her time leading Mattel’s TV Studios, Mendelovitz was responsible for overseeing the development, production and distribution of Mattel’s slate of TV content across broadcast and streaming globally. She reported to Mattel’s chief franchise officer, Josh Silverman.

Mattel TV Studios recently brought on board Sidney Clifton, Amy Suh and Cory Bennett Lewis as the creative head for animation, the creative head of live action and the head of production, respectively. The trio previously reported to Mendelovitz, whose role is expected to be filled.

Mendelovitz joined Mattel in the wake of the smash success of “Barbie,” starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling,...

Camila Mendes has joined the cast of “Masters of the Universe.” The “Riverdale” actor will portray the character of Teela alongside Nicholas Galitzine, who is playing the blond barbarian known as He Man.

Plot details are being kept under wraps,” but according to a prior synopsis from the studio, “Masters of the Universe” follows Prince Adam of Eternia aka He-Man, who crashes to Earth in a spaceship as a child and, decades later, returns to his home planet to defend it from the evil forces of the baddie known as Skeletor. But in order to defeat the powerful villain, he needs to uncover the mysteries of his past and become He-Man, referred to in this world as “the most powerful man in the universe.” Teela is a warrior who is responsible for protecting Eternia’s royal family and may or may not become Prince Adam’s romantic interest.

Travis Knight...

Come into the lab and see what’s on the slab for Universal as the studio Frankenstein’s a Monster High movie based on the beloved horror-themed toy line. After unleashing the billion-dollar Barbie movie on the world, Universal and Mattel are teaming up for another toys-to-life film project focusing on an iconic collection of dolls. The Monster High toy line debuted in 2010 while focusing on the teenage children of famous monsters such as Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolfman. Monster High finds the teens navigating high school while contending with the pressures and perils of adolescence. Akiva Goldsman is producing Universal and Mattel’s Monster High movie, while the studios have yet to name a director.

“Monster High helps fans discover the great beauty in being true to yourself and celebrates the unique sensibilities at the core of who we are as individuals. We’re proud to partner with Universal Pictures...

Hey, it worked for Barbie.

Mattel’s next feature film based on a doll will be a live-action, theatrical Monster High movie written and produced by Akiva Goldsman and distributed by Universal Pictures. The gist of the Monster High fashion-doll line is that they are the children of iconic monsters, like Frankie Stein (the daughter of Frankenstein’s monster and his bride), Draculaura (the daughter of Dracula), and Clawdeen Wolf (the daughter of a werewolf mom and a human dad).

Goldsman’s banner Weed Road will produce the film. Goldsman, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of “A Beautiful Mind,” is also a producer on Mattel Films’ upcoming Major Matt Mason movie starring Tom Hanks. The announcement of that toy adaptation, which is set up at Paramount Pictures, preceded “Barbie.”

Kevin McKeon and Arturo Thur De Koos will oversee the Monster High movie for Mattel; Greg Lessans has oversight for Weed Road.

Oscar-winning writer-producer Akiva Goldsman and his Weed Road are partnering with Mattel, Inc. and Universal Pictures to develop a live-action theatrical Monsters High film, based on the multimedia franchise of the same name.

We’re told that Goldsman is only producing, not writing, so the assignment remains open for now.

First introduced via a line of dolls in 2010, Monster High centers around a fictional high school attended by the teenage children of famous monsters. These characters, such as Draculaura (daughter of Dracula), Frankie Stein (daughter of Frankenstein’s monster), Clawdeen Wolf (daughter of the Werewolf) and Cleo de Nile (daughter of the Mummy), are designed to reflect the diverse and unique offspring of classic monster figures. Each brings their own personality, style, and background to the Monster High universe, creating a rich tapestry of monster heritage and high school drama.

Beyond the dolls, Monster High has thus far expanded into various forms of media,...

Following the huge success of his Prime Video rom-coms The Idea of You and Red, White & Royal Blue, Nicholas Galitzine is staying in business with Amazon MGM, as he’s been tapped to star as He-Man in the live-action Masters of the Universe flick from the studio and Mattel Films.

While long-awaited, details as to the film’s plot are under wraps. Based on the iconic franchise from Mattel, it’ll be directed by Travis Knight, who is working from a script by Chris Butler. David Callaham, Aaron Nee and Adam Nee worked on an earlier draft.

Masters of the Universe will be produced by Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch, as well as Mattel Films’ Robbie Brenner. Previously in development at Sony and Netflix, the film will be released exclusively in theaters worldwide on June 5, 2026.

Centering on the battle between the heroic He-Man (aka Prince Adam...

Last summer, Stereotypical Barbie admitted on the dance floor that sometimes she thinks about dying, and in part because of her brutal, relatable honesty, "Barbie" was the biggest hit of the year. Now, Bob the Builder is apparently set to endure the toy company Mattel's next on-screen existential crisis, as star Anthony Ramos says that the movie will follow a version of Bob who has "kind of lost his sense of what it is, to build," per Total Film.

"In the Heights" and "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" star Ramos spoke to Total Film for the magazine's latest print issue, in which he tried to explain the weirdly emotionally complex plot of the upcoming "Bob the Builder" film. The movie was previously described by The Guardian as being about Bob traveling to Puerto Rico, where he "takes on issues affecting the island and digs deeper into what it means to build.

The long-awaited live-action “Masters of the Universe” movie is one step closer to becoming a reality, with Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel Films dating the project for worldwide theatrical release on June 5, 2026.

Travis Knight is on board to direct the film adaptation of the popular franchise, with Chris Butler writing the screenplay, following initial drafts written by David Callaham and Aaron and Adam Nee. Mattel Films’ Robbie Brenner, Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch are producing.

According to its official synopsis, “Masters of the Universe” introduces a 10-year-old Prince Adam, who crashed to Earth in a spaceship and was separated from his magical Power Sword — the only link to his home on Eternia.

“After tracking it down almost two decades later,” the synopsis explains, “Prince Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home planet against the evil forces of Skeletor. But to defeat such a powerful villain,...

Jacob Scipio is headed back to the “Bad Boys” universe.

Scipio, who most recently starred opposite Pedro Pascal and Nicolas Cage in the meta adventure “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” will reprise his role as Armando Aretas – the estranged son of Will Smith’s Miami-Dade police detective character Mike Lowery.

Scipio appeared in 2020’s “Bad Boys for Life,” the action film led by Smith and Martin Lawrence. Further plot details are currently under wraps.

The fourth film also features Paola Núnez, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig and “Euphoria’s” Eric Dane. The original “Bad Boys” earned $141 million at the global box office, while the 2003 sequel “Bad Boys II” totaled $273 million. “Bad Boys for Life” outgrossed its predecessors with a combined $426.5 million. The new film will open June 7.

Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are returning to direct from a script by Chris Bremner Jerry Bruckheimer, Smith through his Westbrook banner,...

Netflix, Amazon and DreamWorks Animation are all reportedly battling for the rights to Jennifer Lopez and Anthony Ramos’ big-screen version of Bob The Builder.

In news that might make some British readers do a double take, the animated children’s TV show Bob The Builder is being adapted into a film by Jennifer Lopez’s production company, and interest is such that a bidding war has reportedly sparked up.

According to Deadline's exclusive, Netflix, Amazon MGM and DreamWorks Animation are all interested in partnering with Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions on the animated project.

Unexpected though ‘Jennifer Lopez’s Bob The Builder’ might be as a headline, the musician and star’s plans for the film have plenty of logic behind them. Actor Anthony Ramos – who’ll produce the film alongside Lopez – originally came up with the idea of telling a Bob The Builder story set in Puerto Rico.

Ramos...

Exclusive: There is a hot bidding war heating up for Mattel’s animated take of Bob the Builder with heavy interest from Netflix, Amazon MGM Studios, and DreamWorks Animation and others. We hear that offers have been made, and that no one is merely circling for this animated feature which speaks greatly to the Latino and Hispanic community.

The project, which we told you about last month, has Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions producing with ShadowMachine (which was behind Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio) and In the Heights star Anthony Ramos. In fact, it was Ramos idea to deliver a Bob the Builder set in Puerto Rico, one which is about the resilience of the Latino culture. Bob’s motto in Spanish: “Si se puede” aka “Yes we can.” Felipe Vargas is adapting.

In the movie, Roberto aka Bob (Ramos) travels to Puerto Rico for a major construction job, takes...

Bob the Builder is getting the big-screen treatment as a reimagined version of the children's television show.

Per Deadline, it's been announced by Mattel and Jennifer Lopez of Nuyorican Productions that an animated Bob the Builder movie is officially in development. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts star Anthony Ramos will lead the voice cast as Roberto, aka "Bob," and the actor has responded to the announcement on social media. Taking to Instagram, Ramos shared how excited he was to be a part of the project, which will also see him serving as a producer.

Related Mattel Films Boss Is 'Thrilled' With Lena Dunham's Polly Pocket Script Mattel Films producer Robbie Brenner has shown excitement about the upcoming Polly Pocket movie's script written by Lena Dunham, View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anthony Ramos (@anthonyramosofficial)

"Proud to be working with the family at [Mattel] and stepping into the...

Jennifer Lopez is bringing Bob the Builder to the big screen.The singer and actress, 54, has been producing a film adaptation of the British animated construction worker with toymaker Mattel, which owns the brand, seeking to capitalise on the box office success of the ‘Barbie’ film by putting more of its mascots into cinemas.Bob – whose catchphrase is “Can we fix it?” – will be seen in the movie going to Puerto Rico for a huge construction job, according to producers, and will be voiced by the ‘In the Heights’ star Anthony Ramos, 32.The American actor of Puerto Rican descent told The Times the adaptation would carry an “important message” and that aspects of the film were inspired by his own life.He added: “For years, Bob the Builder’s characters have inspired young people around the world.“A movie about friends working together, a celebration of a beautiful home they share,...

Can Anthony Ramos fix it? Yes, he can!

The Hamilton alum is attached to star in a feature-length Bob the Builder movie, based on the popular children’s series.

More from TVLineTVLine Items: Anthony Ramos Joins Ironheart, Better Things Trailer and MorePerformer of the Week: Rose ByrneTVLine Items: Peete Joins Housewife, Hamilton Vet Is In Treatment and More

The animated film will find Ramos voicing Roberto aka Bob, who travels to Puerto Rico for a major construction job. There, according to the project’s synopsis, “he takes on issues affecting the island and digs deeper into what it means to build.

Bob the Builder is getting a movie adaptation produced by Jennifer Lopez and starring Anthony Ramos. The movie will be a Latinx-oriented retelling, with Ramos voicing the title role, Roberto (Bob), on a construction site in Puerto Rico. The movie will take viewers on an educational journey, providing a unique twist to the beloved children's show.

A movie adaptation of Bob the Builder is in the works. The cartoon, which contributed the iconic catchphrase "Can we fix it? Yes we can!" to the pop culture lexicon, follows builders Bob and Wendy and their talking vehicles as they take on various construction projects. The British show originally ran for 18 seasons between 1999 and 2011 before being rebooted with CGI animation for a three-season run beginning in 2015.

Per Variety, Jennifer Lopez is producing a movie adaptation of Bob the Builder. In the Heights and Hamilton star Anthony Ramos, who also recently appeared in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,...

Grab your hard hat and a can-do attitude because an animated Bob the Builder film is under construction! Hammering away at the silver-screen adaptation are Mattel Films, ShadowMachine, Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions, and Anthony Ramos. The team plans to reimagine Bob the Builder for international appeal with a story that resonates with multicultural audiences.

Anthony Ramos will star in Bob the Builder in addition to his producer status. Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico of ShadowMachine join Ramos for the high-profile animated project, with Jennifer Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, and Benny Medina for Nuyorican Productions co-producing. The movie boasts a script written by Felipe Vargas, with Kevin McKeon, Ivan Sanchez, and Arturo Thur De Koós of Mattel Films and Natalie Haack Flores of Nuyorican overseeing production.

The story follows Roberto, aka Bob, who picks up his toolbox and ventures to Puerto Rico for a substantial construction gig. While hammering away on his latest project,...

Bob the Builder is ready for his big screen debut.

The construction worker with a can-do attitude will be the subject of a new animated feature film from Mattel Films. Jennifer Lopez is producing “Bob the Builder,” while “In the Heights” star Anthony Ramos will voice the title character.

A twist on the long-running children’s series, “Bob the Builder” follows Roberto (aka Bob) who travels to Puerto Rico for a major construction job. According to the official logline, audiences will see Bob as 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.” Felipe Vargas (the upcoming “Rosario”) is attached to write the screenplay; a director has not been announced.

“Pairing Anthony and Felipe’s genius vision for the story will capture this beloved character...

From Brian Cox to Miranda Otto, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim cast features the voices of several recognizable stars, with some actors from the movies returning as well. Given the blockbuster box office performance of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, Warner Bros. is eager to expand on its J.R.R. Tolkien movie franchise. Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, produced with New Line Cinema, has brought the franchise into the streaming world. Now, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will introduce an animated element.

Set 183 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim revolves around Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan, who has to defend his people against an army of Dunlendings. Helm becomes the namesake of Helm’s Deep,...

ITV has announced the planned closure of its children’s channel Citv.

The channel was launched in 2006 after the success of the Children’s ITV programming block, which launched on ITV in 1983 to provide dedicated late-afternoon programming for children aged between five and 13.

On Friday (10 March), the broadcaster announced that the Citv channel is set to close in the early autumn, after the launch of a new “dedicated destination for kids” on its streaming service Itvx.

The new service, Itvx Kids, is due to launch in July 2023. It will be rolled out during the UK school summer holiday period, with a range of titles aimed at both school-age and preschool children.

Itvx launched in December last year to replace the ITV Hub brand as the online home of all ITV content, as the broadcaster attempts to compete with streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon.

Despite the closure of Citv,...

‘Motorway’ Director In The Driving Seat

Cheang Pou Soi (better known as Soi Cheang) whose latest film “Mad Fate” will premiere this month at the Berlin Film Festival, will be further honored next month when the Hong Kong International Film Festival makes him its Filmmaker in Focus.

He was born in Macau, but gained his footing in the much larger Hong Kong film industry, under the tutelage of Ringo Lam, Andrew Lau, Joe Ma, Wilson Yip and Johnnie To. He achieved a breakthrough with 1999 digital video “Our Last Day.”

“Cheang is a key figure among Hong Kong’s post-1997 generation of filmmakers and notable for his sombre but unmistakably personal visual style,” Hkiff Society director Albert Lee said in a statement. “He seldom deviates from mainstream storytelling conventions, but innovatively explores new boundaries of filmmaking across different genres, from horror and thriller to action films. In the stark dystopia he creates,...

Andy Cohen life as a parent is all too relatable.

On Monday, the “Watch What Happens Live” host shared a hilarious video of his 3-year-old son Benjamin Allen throwing a tantrum in the car.

Read More: Andy Cohen Keeps Show Going After Burning His Hand During Ad Break

As the kid screams and cries, Cohen tells him he’s been “watching Bob the Builder for six hours while I packed the car up. You can’t want to watch more!”

“I do,” Benjamin responds through his wailing.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Andy Cohen (@bravoandy)

Cohen then jokes, “Vacation is over!” as his son shouts, “I want to go back!”

The video then cuts to three minutes later when everything seems to have calmed down.

“Ben do you feel better now?” he asks, to which Benjamin responds, “Um, No.”

Read More: Andy Cohen Opens Up On...

Exclusive: Paw Patrol and Bob the Builder creator Keith Chapman has partnered with London indie Snipple Originals to co-create and develop ground-breaking animated kids TV shows.

Under his Keith Chapman Productions banner, Chapman and Snipple will create character-driven animated IP for the upper pre-school market.

The veteran UK kids TV exec is already developing Paco & the Pirate League for the partnership, a 2D animation following the adventures of the world’s greatest football player, Paco, a 10-year-old cabin boy living on the Golden Boot pirate ship. Chapman described Paco & the Pirate League as “the show I wish I could have watched as a kid kicking my first football around.”

The exec has created some of the biggest animated hits of the past generation including CBeebies’ Bob the Builder and Nickelodeon’s international smash Paw Patrol, which has spawned 10 series and two features.

Snipple Originals, meanwhile, is part of Philippines-based animation studio Snipple Group,...

Chinese video streaming firm iQiyi has teamed with Canada’s Wildbrain to jointly produce kids’ animation series “Jonny Jetboy.” The series was hatched by Keith Chapman, creator of “Paw Patrol” and “Bob The Builder” and will run to an initial forty 11-minute episodes.

The story follows Jonny Jones, the youngest member of a family of heroes as he learns to become a superhero like his JetForce family. They are committed to protecting the high-tech city Calamity Canyon, from its many villains. Jonny wields a JetGlove and is the fastest member of the force, but often he struggles to control his special powers.

The deal marks first global partnership for original China IP struck by WildBrain’s dedicated Shanghai team. Now under way, production is taking place at China’s WingSing Animation Studio with WildBrain acting as supervisor. Delivery is scheduled for 2023.

The Canadian company is also handling global distribution and licensing outside of Greater China.

You can just tell that Oprah Winfrey’s CBS interview of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry has Buckingham Palace shook. On Monday, Stephen Colbert’s cold open saw Queen Elizabeth II attempt to enlist the British “Bob the Builder” gang to “fix” the British monarchy.

Good luck with that, chap. Gonna need some much, much different tools than what you’ve got in that belt.

“I have a special project for you today,” the superimposed Queen Elizabeth II says to Bob in the masterfully edited footage from the kids’ stop motion series. “The British monarchy: can you fix it?”

“Uhhh, fix what?” Bob asks.

“You know: fix the systemic racism, the nepotism, the inbreeding and, let’s say, Andrew,” her majesty replies. “Bob, can you fix it?”

Bob punted that loaded question to his team of heavy-load machinery. No one seemed confident in tackling the enormous task.

“Fine, I’ll...

Even if parents are going batty trying to keep their little ones entertained while cooped up at home during this pandemic, they’re not necessarily plunking the kids in front of the TV — not linear TV at least. Meanwhile, certain streaming services are seeing a lift in interest, underscoring the next generation’s shift in television viewing habits.

For the week of March 23-29, viewership of ad-supported kids’ linear cable networks — a group that includes Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Disney Xd and others — slid 3% from the comparable week in March 2019, according to Bernstein research analysts, citing Nielsen figures. And that year-over-year decline actually marks a major improvement: prior to shelter-in-place measures being implemented, weekly viewership of those channels among 2- to 11-year-olds had been plummeting an average of 25% since the start of 2020.

“Even though the rate of decline significantly decelerated, it’s still in negative territory even though time available in...

Sad news today as it is being reported that James Bond and Superman actor Vincent Marzello has passed away at the age of 68. The tragic announcement came from Marzello's wife, Lorelei King, who broke the news of the actor's passing on Tuesday morning.

"The love of my life, my darling husband Vincent Marzello, died this morning. To those who knew him, I'm sorry to post this news rather than contact you personally, but I am overwhelmed. My heart is broken."

Though she did not share any details surrounding the death of her husband, she let friends and supporters know that he had passed on via a post on social media. Despite an official cause of death not being given, it has been reported that Marzello was being treated for cancer in 2009. Following his successful treatment, he was diagnosed with early-onset dementia.

Vincent Marzello was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York,...

Vincent Marzello, an actor who has appeared in the James Bond films “Never Say Never Again” and “The Spy Who Loved Me,” as well as lent his voice to the animated series “Bob the Builder,” has died. He was 68.

Marzello was treated for cancer in 2009 and was then diagnosed with early onset dementia following his treatment. His wife, “Notting Hill” actress Lorelei King, shared the news on Twitter on Tuesday.

“The love of my life, my darling husband Vincent Marzello, died this morning. To those who knew him, I am sorry to post the news rather than contact you personally, but I am overwhelmed. My heart is broken,” King said.

Also Read: William Dufris, 'Bob the Builder' Voice Actor, Dies at 62

After a few TV roles, Marzello’s first film part was an unnamed role in “The Spy Who Loved Me” in 1977, followed by another role in the original “Superman” film.

Actor Vincent Marzello, best known for his roles in “The Witches,” “Superman” and “The Spy Who Loved Me,” died on Tuesday. He was 68.

Marzello’s wife, “Notting Hill” actor Lorelei King, tweeted the news.

“The love of my life, my darling husband Vincent Marzello, died this morning,” she wrote. “To those who knew him, I am sorry to post the news rather than contact you personally, but I am overwhelmed. My heart is broken.”

Marzello most recently lent his voice to the 2017 TV series “The Magical Music Box.” He was a regular on the animated show “Bob the Builder” from 2000 through 2016.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Marzello lived with King in London. He made his acting debut in 1976 in an episode of the TV series “The Brothers.” He has appeared in two James Bond movies, “The Spy Who Loved Me” and “Never Say Never Again.” Marzello is best remembered...

William Dufris, who voiced the title character in the U.S. and Canadian version of the children’s series Bob the Builder for its first nine seasons, has died of cancer. He was 62. Pocket Universe Productions, which Dufris co-founded, confirmed the news on social media Tuesday but did not give details.

“There is a hole in a lot of people’s hearts right now.,” the company said in a tweet (see it below).

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Born on February 1, 1958, in Houlton, Me, Dufris got his start in voice acting in London during his early 20s. He worked on audiobooks, language tapes and the like and also acted in BBC Radio...

Netflix and Spin Master Entertainment are all aboard on Mighty Express, a CG-animated series for preschoolers from the creator of Paw Patrol. Set to start streaming in September, the series features an ensemble cast of trains and kids in an expansive world with amazing adventures.

Created by Keith Chapman, who created the tot-focused hits Paw Patrol and Bob the Builder, the series sees kids running the train stations and working together with the Mighty Express on heroic adventures.

Spin Master Entertainment Evp Jennifer Dodge executive produces the series, which will be animated by the Vancouver-based toon house Atomic Cartoons.

“Spin Master Entertainment has deep experience developing compelling stories and endearing characters for preschool audiences worldwide,” Dodge said. “We have the unique ability to take classic, beloved themes for kids, add innovation, combined with amazing storytelling and high-end animation to deliver fresh, new content.”

Chapman also is attached to Farmer Mars...

When the first teaser trailer for Netflix's upcoming anime series Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 arrived last fall, viewers were quick to downvote it based purely on visuals. They (rightfully) compared the new and relatively cartoonish style to PS2 games, kids cartoons like Bob the Builder, and even porn-parody versions of the beloved title. That upvote/downvote ratio more or less evened out over the last few months, but now a new official trailer for the anime series is here, and fans are riled up all over again. This time, it's not just the visuals they hate, …...

“The Twilight Zone” Season 2. Richard Linklater’s long-awaited return to television. DreamWorks’ reimagining of several popular children’s franchises. The CBS executive panel at the Television Critics Association 2020 Winter Press Tour wasn’t lacking for news, but it’s also time to start “Tooning Out the News.”

Marc DeBevoise, CBS Interactive’s CEO and president, and Julie McNamara, executive vice president of original content for the CBS All Access streaming service, shared details about a variety of upcoming CBS All Access projects during their TCA executive session in Pasadena Sunday afternoon.

“Tooning” is an animated political comedy series executive produced by Stephen Colbert, and will feature brief daily segments and a full weekly episode that mocks the news and will include interviews with real guests. The series’ trailer featured a snarky voiceover that poked fun at contemporary social and news topics; the shows within the show will range from “Virtue Signal,...

CBS All Access announced plans to debut three new editions of popular children’s animated series — “Lassie,” “George of the Jungle” and “Mr. Magoo.”

The three new shows, which come from DreamWorks Animation’s Classic Media, will all debut commercial-free on Jan. 17.

The announcement was made by Marc DeBevoise, chief digital officer of ViacomCBS and President and CEO of CBS Interactive, during CBS All Access’ presentation at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena on Sunday.

Also Read: 'Silence of the Lambs' Sequel 'Clarice' Gets Series Commitment at CBS

“We’ve seen a tremendous response from our subscribers in just the few months since CBS All Access began offering children’s programming,” DeBevoise said. “Bringing new editions of legendary classics like ‘Lassie,’ ‘George of the Jungle’ and ‘Mr. Magoo’ to the service is a fantastic benchmark for CBS All Access, and we look forward to continuing to expand our offering for families.

CBS has today begun to roll-out a raft of kids’ content on its digital streaming service CBS All Access.

This comes after the company revealed in August that it had licensed series including new seasons of Dhx Media’s Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, produced with Sony Pictures Animation, and Boat Rocker’s new Danger Mouse, produced with BBC Children’s Productions.

Other titles include the original Danger Mouse series from Boat Rocker Studios and titles from Dhx Media such as the classic Inspector Gadget, The Adventures of Paddington Bear, Madeline and Heathcliff.

Elsewhere, Bob the Builder, Sonic the Hedgehog, Adventures of Super Mario Bros., Archie’s Weird Mysteries, Polly Pocket, Where in the World is Carmen San Diego? and Strawberry Shortcake Berry Bitty Adventures will also be available.

Separately, it will start rolling out select titles from its library of Nickelodeon programming from January.

The kids’ shows will...

Exclusive: Island Of Misfits has put in development Farmer Mars (working title), a new animated series from Paw Patrol and Bob the Builder creator Keith Chapman.

The series, aimed at pre-school aged children 3-6, is based on an original concept by Chapman. Set on the planet Mars, it follows a young Earth boy named Rob who gets a job on a farm owned and operated by the upbeat yet absent-minded owner, Farmer Mars. Nestled in the fertile lands of Crater Valley, Martianmallow Farm grows fruits, vegetables, and flowers, but it is most famous for Martianmallows and a weird and wonderful collection of Martian animals that help keep the place running.

“We are very excited to partner with Keith to bring the lovable Farmer Mars to life,” says Dana Landry, President & CEO of IoM. “With his long legacy of creating some of the world’s most recognizable cartoons and characters, we...

NBCUniversal is rearranging the toys it uses in its kids-programming playground.

The company’s Universal Kids will place a bigger bet on its ties to DreamWorks Animation, which NBCU bought in August of 2016 for approximately $3.8 billion. The network will stop developing original shows that are not based on DreamWorks properties, according to a person familiar with the matter, though it will continue to acquire series made by third-party producers.

The move takes place amid declining ratings and an executive restructure that has the network’s operations reporting directly to Frances Berwick, the executive who oversees NBCU’s lifestyle-based cable networks, including Bravo and Oxygen. Deirdre Brennan, the former general manager of Universal Kids, left in February. Universal Kids has been the primary vehicle NBCU hoped to ride to get into the multi-billion dollar market for kids entertainment, jockeying with rivals like Walt Disney, Viacom’s Nickelodeon and WarnerMedia’s Cartoon Network.

Mattel, Inc. (Nasdaq: Mat) today announced a new slate of 22 animated and live-action TV programs based on the company’s iconic and globally-recognized characters and franchises. The new programs in development are created by Mattel Television for multi-platform distribution and are based on more than 20 properties in Mattel’s rich IP portfolio. This innovative slate of high-quality episodic content for multi-platform distribution will encompass a broad range of genres, including action adventure, humor, game shows, music and more, and are designed to reach a range of demographics including toddlers and preschool, boys, girls, tweens, teens and families.

Ynon Kreiz, Chairman and CEO of Mattel, said: “With the proliferation of broadcasting and streaming platforms, there is a growing demand for high-quality content driven by global brands. Mattel is the owner of one of the strongest portfolios of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. We have countless opportunities...

Bob the Builder is back and you can see the new-look character in action below.

A new trailer for the revamped series has been unveiled ahead of its premiere on Channel 5.

The new-look Bob was unveiled towards the end of 2014, and fans of the show - as well as original star Neil Morrissey - voiced their disapproval on Twitter.

The handyman and his friends, who made their first appearance on CBeebies, have been given a makeover and 'digified', losing their stop-motion look.

Channel 5 has signed an agreement with producer Hit Entertainment for 104 new 11-minute episodes, with Harry Potter star Lee Ingleby replacing Morrissey as Bob.

Downton Abbey's Joanne Froggatt and The Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison are also lending their talents to the show.

Bob the Builder will return to screens later this year. Can he still fix it? We'll have to wait and see.

The first image of the brand new Tracy brothers from the upcoming Thunderbirds reboot was released earlier today (January 15).

As it turned out, the reaction was less than Fab, with many fans of the original series sharing their views on Twitter. Boyband comparisons and terrifying death stares are among the most noted complaints so far.

Here are just a few reactions from Gerry Anderson fans old and new:

It's called Thunderbirds, not Thunderblokes

— Alec Meer HD (@bonzrat) January 15, 2015

So, the new #Thunderbirds are basically One Direction as Power Rangers? http://t.co/z9MjEBqfFe pic.twitter.com/ihIxvXBbqX

— Christopher Allen (@chris_allen) January 15, 2015

And I thought that Busted song was the biggest insult to Thunderbirds. These new Tracy Brothers make me want to vomit.

— Daniel Sperling (@dan_sperling) January 15, 2015

As creepy as they are, the new CGI Thunderbirds somehow look even more human than most of the Tory frontbench. pic.

There are many upsides and downsides to the growing world of streaming movies, but easily one of the most frustrating is the lack of permanence that exists in the system. There are thousands of great movies available to watch, but because of the way contracts are structured they can be online one day and gone the next. Case in point: Netflix is losing a ton of great titles as soon as the calendar switches from October to November. The blog Now Streaming has compiled a list of all movies and shows that will be getting removed from Netflix on November 1st. A good number of the titles are things that adult cinefiles probably don't care too much about, such as various Barney, Bob The Builder, and Thomas & Friends movies, but there are some bonafide classics and Oscar winners that will no longer be available to subscribers. The idea of trying...

There’s a lot of exciting new fare arriving on Netflix this month, but alas, it’s like they always say: Netflix giveth, and Netflix taketh away. Here’s the list of movies that will disappear from the streaming librarynet on November 1. If you’ve been putting off watching Apocalypse Now all these years, now's your chance:101 Dalmatians (1996) American Psycho (2000) Apocalypse Now (1979) Apocalypse Now Redux (2001) Balibo (2009) The Big Chill (1983) Blown Away (1992) Bob the Builder (1999-2012) Breezy (1973) Brighton Beach Memoirs (1986) Broadcast News (1987) The Buddy Holly Story (1978) Bullet Proof Monk (2003) Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) Candyman (1992) Caveman (1981) Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie (1980) Cloak & Dagger (1984) The Conqueror Worm (1968) The Dogs of War (1980) Elvis ’56 (1987) The Escape Artist (1982) Footloose (1984) For a Few Dollars More (1965) Fire in Babylon (2010) The Good, the Bad...