Draft:Thomas & Friends: The Movie

{{AFC comment|Please excuse the rejected submission template, for I submitted this draft before I realised that films had to be confirmed to be in production before they could get a Wikipedia article. This draft can still be expanded and later enter the mainspace. See AngusWOOF's comment below for more information. SleepDeprivedGinger (talk) 23:09, 13 November 2024 (UTC)}}

{{AFC submission|d|v|u=SuperWikiBrother|ns=118|decliner=AngusWOOF|declinets=20230318173408|reason2=film|ts=20230318121758}}

{{AFC comment|1=Needs more external news sources showing that principal photography has commenced. AngusW🐶🐶F (barksniff) 17:34, 18 March 2023 (UTC)}}

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{{Short description|Upcoming film by Marc Forster}}

{{AfC topic|media}}

{{Draft article|Thomas & Friends: The Movie|subject=film|noafc=yes}}

{{Film draft notice}}

{{merge|Draft:Untitled Thomas & Friends film|discuss=Draft talk:Untitled Thomas & Friends film#Merge with Draft:Thomas & Friends: The Movie}}

{{italic title}}

{{use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}

{{Infobox film

| italic_title = no

| name = {{noitalic|Untitled Thomas & Friends film}}

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| director = Marc Forster

| writer =

| screenplay = Alyssa Hill
Jesse Wigutow

| story =

| based_on = {{based on|The Railway Series|Wilbert Awdry}}
{{based on|Thomas & Friends|Britt Allcroft}}

| producer = Marc Forster
Renée Wolfe

| starring =

| narrator =

| cinematography =

| editing =

| music =

| production_companies = Mattel Films
2DUX² Productions

| distributor =

| released =

| runtime =

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

The untitled Thomas & Friends film is an upcoming American live-action animated adventure film based on the British television series Thomas & Friends, set to be directed by Marc Forster and developed by Mattel Films. It is the second theatrical feature film in the Thomas & Friends franchise, following Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000), and will follow Thomas the Tank Engine in a "modern and unexpected" story.

Premise

Mattel Films chief Robbie Brenner has stated that Thomas' story in the film will be told "in a modern and unexpected way".{{cite web |title=Mattel Films and Marc Forster's 2Dux² Partner to Develop "Thomas & Friends®" Feature Film |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201006005440/en/Mattel-Films-and-Marc-Forster's-2Dux²-Partner-to-Develop-"Thomas-Friends®"-Feature-Film |website=Business Wire |access-date=24 February 2025 |date=6 October 2020}}

Production

=Background=

A second live-action film based on Thomas & Friends was in development at HIT Entertainment in 2009. It would have piloted the studio's film division, and was originally slated for a theatrical release in late 2010.{{Cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000782.html?categoryid=13&cs=1|work=Variety|title=Hit Entertainment gets into movie biz|first=Dade|last=Hayes|date=March 3, 2009|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=March 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319183852/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000782.html?categoryid=13&cs=1|url-status=live}} The film would later be pushed back to 2011, with Josh Klausner having signed on to write the film.{{cite web|title=Hit Entertainment's Hit Movies Division Begins Development Of First Feature Film Based on the Adventures of Thomas and Friends|url=http://www.hitnewsonline.com/releases/detail/hit_entertainments_hit_movies_division_begins_development_of_first_feature/thomas_friends|publisher=HIT Entertainment|access-date=August 14, 2010|date=September 30, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712213414/http://www.hitnewsonline.com/releases/detail/hit_entertainments_hit_movies_division_begins_development_of_first_feature/thomas_friends|archive-date=July 12, 2011}} The last update on the film was that Shane Acker signed on to direct in 2011, with Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi contributing to the script.{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike|url=https://www.deadline.com/2011/06/9-helmer-shane-acker-boards-feature-based-on-the-thomas-the-tank-engine-toys/|title='9' Helmer Shane Acker Boards Feature Based on the Thomas The Tank Engine Toys|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=June 8, 2011|access-date=October 1, 2011|archive-date=October 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011121027/http://www.deadline.com/2011/06/9-helmer-shane-acker-boards-feature-based-on-the-thomas-the-tank-engine-toys/|url-status=live}}

=Development=

{{quote box|width=30em|quote=Thomas has been a personal favorite of mine since childhood, 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.|source=Marc Forster}}

In October 2020, it was announced that Marc Forster would be directing and producing a feature film based on Thomas & Friends.{{cite web |title=Every Upcoming Movie Based On A Toy |url=https://screenrant.com/upcoming-movies-based-on-toys/ |first=Jack |last=Walters |website=Screen Rant |date=March 30, 2023 |access-date=30 August 2023}}{{cite web |title=Marc Forster to Direct 'Thomas & Friends' Movie for Mattel Films |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/marc-forster-to-direct-thomas-friends-movie-for-mattel-films-4071702/ |first=Mia |last=Galuppo |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=6 October 2020 |access-date=18 March 2023}} Alongside Forster's announcement, it was also confirmed that Alyssa Hill and Jesse Wigutow would be writing the film's screenplay.{{cite web |title='Thomas & Friends' Movie in Development From Mattel With Marc Forster |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/thomas-friends-movie-mattel-marc-forster-1234793292/ |website=Variety |date=6 October 2020 |first=Dave |last=McNary |access-date=18 March 2023}} Executive producer Robbie Brenner described the film as "a four-quadrant family adventure that blends live-action and animation".{{cite web |title='Thomas & Friends' New Movie In The Works From Mattel Films & Marc Forster's 2Dux² |url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/thomas-friends-new-movie-in-the-works-from-mattel-films-marc-forsters-2dux%c2%b2-1234591950/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=6 October 2020 |first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro |access-date=18 March 2023}}

References

{{reflist}}