Are we going to get scary CGI babies?
The live-action big screen version of Rugrats is moving forward, and Paramount have announced a director.
David Bowers will take charge of the adaptation of the classic Nickelodeon cartoon. Stockport-born Bowers is not necessarily a household name, but he has a good track record in family movies. He directed the second, third and fourth Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies, as well as the update of Japanese superhero Astro Boy, and the Aardman animation Flushed Away.
As an animator, he worked on Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and the British TV shows Count Duckula and Danger Mouse
Futurama and Star Trek: Enterprise writer David A. Goodman will handle the script.
A January 29th, 2021 release date has been set by Paramount.
The Rugrats film is part of a push from Paramount to bring multiple Nickelodeon properties to the screen. Dora The Explorer is coming later this year, and a movie version of Are You Afraid of the Dark? is also on the way.
Rugrats first aired in 1991, and was one of the original three Nicktoons alongside Ren & Stimpy and Doug. It ran for 172 episodes, continuing on and off for nine seasons and concluding in 2004.
A follow-up series All Grown Up, which moved the action forward to Tommy and Chuckie’s preteen days, aired from 2003 to 2008.
Three animated movies have already been spun-off from the show: The Rugrats Movie, Rugrats in Paris and Rugrats Go Wild.
