![The Director of ‘World War Z’ Is Making a ‘Thomas & Friends’ Movie](https://townsquare.media/site/442/files/2020/10/THOMAS-AND-FRIENDS.jpg?w=980&q=75)
The Director of ‘World War Z’ Is Making a ‘Thomas & Friends’ Movie
They're two, they're four, they're six, they're eight, shunting trucks and hauling freights.
Red and green and brown and blue, they're the really useful crew — but now they’re going to be in a movie.
Thomas & Friends, that staple of children’s television for decades, is getting its own big-screen movie adaptation. Mattel, who owns the rights to Thomas and his friends, announced the news in a press release, promising the film will be a “four-quadrant family adventure that blends live-action and animation.” The screenplay is by Alyssa Hill and Jesse Wigutow, who wrote the upcoming Tron 3.
In a surprising twist, the director of the film will be Marc Forster, the director of World War Z, Monster’s Ball, Quantum of Solace, and Machine Gun Preacher — all movies that fall outside of Thomas & Friends’ target audience. (His most recent effort, 2018’s Christopher Robin, was a little more appropriate for young kids.) According to Forster, “Thomas has been a personal favorite since childhood.” He added, “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.”
The press release touts that Thomas & Friends is just one of many Mattel toys and brands that are in development as motion pictures, including “American Girl®, Barbie®, Barney®, Hot Wheels®, Magic 8 Ball®, Major Matt Mason®, Masters of the Universe®, View Master® and Wishbone™.” If Marc Forster can do Thomas & Friends, I say let Neveldine/Taylor direct View Master.
Gallery — The Best Children’s Shows in History:
More From AM 1490 WDBQ
![AC/DC Reveal Release Date for ‘Power Up,’ Their First Studio Album in Six Years](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2020/01/ac-dc-brian-johnson-angus-young.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![‘The Batman’ Gets Pushed Back For a Second Time](http://townsquare.media/site/442/files/2020/08/the-batman-11.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![15 Fleetwood Mac ‘Dreams’ Skateboard Video Copycats](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2020/10/Fleetwood-Mac-challenge-collage1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Look at This Unbelievably Large Lemon Martha Stewart Grew](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2020/10/martha.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Disabled Calf’s New Wheelchair Allows Her to Take Her First Steps](http://townsquare.media/site/341/files/2020/10/calf.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![The House From ‘Silence Of the Lambs’ Is Up For Sale](http://townsquare.media/site/442/files/2017/11/Silence-of-the-Lambs-Foster-Hopkins.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![President Trump & First Lady Melania Trump Test Positive for COVID-19](http://townsquare.media/site/757/files/2020/10/GettyImages-1228456383.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Iowa Department of Public Health Changes Quarantine Recommendations](http://townsquare.media/site/683/files/2020/09/coronavirus1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Dubuque Police Make Arrest for Tuesday’s High Speed Car Chase](http://townsquare.media/site/683/files/2020/09/dub-police.jpg?w=980&q=75)