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A live-action movie based on Toys “R” Us has officially been announced. The toy company was founded by Charles Lazarus, and was branded as Toys “R” Us back in 1957. For years, the company was one of the most prominent retailers for toy sales, before filing for Bankruptcy in 2018 and closing its stores. Now, the company’s products are only able to be purchaes online and in shop-in-shops through retailers like Macy’s.
As per Variety, development is underway on a Toys ‘R’ Us live-action movie. The movie is a co-production of Story Kitchen and Toys “R” Us Studios. The exact plot is yet to be revealed. Producers include Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg, Timothy I. Stevenson, and Elena Sandoval. Toys “R” Us Studios president Kim Miller Olko says of the film “It will be a journey as boundless as play itself, evoking the electric sense of wonder that is the essence of Toys’R’Us.” Check out Olko’s full quote below:
“As Toys’R’Us’ first film, this project is an exciting opportunity to bring the magic of our brand to the big screen. It will be a journey as boundless as play itself, evoking the electric sense of wonder that is the essence of Toys’R’Us. This story will capture the imagination, adventure and joy that has made Toys’R’Us a destination for kids of all ages.”
What This Means For The Toys R Us Movie
One Of The Producers Worked On Sonic The Hedgehog
Already, the Toys “R” Us movie is making big promises, comparing itself to films like Night at the Museum, Back to the Future, and Big. It also has been said to take inspiration from toy-inspired movies like Barbie and Jumanji. Barbie made over $1 billion upon its release in 2023, so it is no surprise that companies outside of Mattel would want to follow suit. Mattel themselves has announced multiple toy-based movies, including films based on Matchbox, View-Master, and American Girl Doll. As such, the Toys “R” Us movie is the latest in this toy-based trend.
Johnson will be a particularly key producer for the Toys “R” Us movie. Johnson has served as the producer on all three Sonic the Hedgehog movies, which have done quite well in theaters. 2024’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3 made $491.9 million at the worldwide box office, making it the most financially successful movie in the series. These video game based films may not be toy-inspired, but Johson’s proven skill with kid-targetted adventure stories could certainly be harnessed for the Toys “R” Us movie.
More to come…
Source: Variety