Move over, Transformers and G.I. Joe,The Care Bearsis the next nostalgic ’80s toy property to get the big screen treatment. Originating as characters on greeting cards, the Care Bears were spun off into a plush toy line that exploded in popularity during the 1980s. Every Care Bear is unique, as they are different colors and each has a unique shape or image on their stomach that represents their personality.
Deadline reports that Warner Bros. has hired director Josh Greenbaum to helm a newCare Bearsmovie. Greenbaum recently won a Peabody Award for his 2024 documentaryWill & Harper, which followed star Will Ferrell and writer Harper Steele on a 17-day road trip across the United States following Steele’s gender transition. Greenbaum’s other directing credits include the cult favoriteBarb and Star Go to Vista Del Marand the adult-oriented animal comedyStrays. No writer is attached toCare Bears.
The Long History of ‘The Care Bears’
This will mark theCare Bears' long-awaited return to the big screen. During the 1980s, at the height of the franchise’s popularity, they had a trilogy of theatrically released animated movies. 1985’sThe Care Bears Movies, 1986’sCare Bears Movie II: A New Generation, and 1987’sThe Care Bears' Adventures in Wonderland. There is no word on whether the newCare Bearsfilm will be live-action or animated. Deadline did not mention Warner Bros. Animation, suggesting this new incarnation might be a live-action movie.
‘The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri To Star in and Write Daniel Kaluuya’s Barney Movie for A24
Emmy-winner Ayo Edebiri, Academy Award-winner Daniel Kaluuya, and A24 are teaming up for a live-action movie based on ‘Barney & Friends.’
On the surface, Greenbaum’s resume is not the traditional pick that one would expect for a property like the Care Bears. However, bringing in a director known for more adult-oriented films and having them put their spin on a beloved childhood property is a solid way to build buzz around what on the surface could seem like a cynical announcement. Phil Lord and Chris Miller’sThe Lego MovieandGreta Gerwig’sBarbieshowed the power of thinking outside the box when adapting a toy line to the big screen.
The Care Bears have remained a consistent brand for decades, with the franchise getting a relaunch in 2019 in the animated seriesCare Bears: Unlock the Magic. Nevertheless, the new projects have never quite recaptured the zeitgeist it did in the 1980s. A feature film version will need to balance audience nostalgia for the franchise, which grows farther away with each passing year, while also appealing to a new generation. With Amazon MGM’sMasters of the Universenext year, Paramount figuring out what to do with theTransformersfranchise, and now a Warner Bros.Care Bearsmovie, all eyes will be on to see if the ’80s nostalgia wave is still strong.
Source:Deadline
The Care Bears
