In a major move that will delight millions of elementary-school readers (and their nostalgia-prone parents), DreamWorks Animation SKG confirmed today that it has acquired the film rights to Dav Pilkey’s mega-selling children’s book series “The Adventures of Captain Underpants” and is fast-tracking a feature-length animated movie.
“Kids have been flipping the pages and laughing out loud at Captain Underpants for over fourteen years,” a DreamWorks executive said on condition of anonymity. “The books are irreverent, wildly imaginative, and perfectly capture the spirit of childhood mischief. We think there’s huge big-screen potential here.”
The “Captain Underpants” series, which launched in 1997 with “The Adventures of Captain Underpants,” follows fourth-graders George Beard and Harold Hutchins as they hypnotize their tyrannical principal Mr. Krupp into believing he is the superhero Captain Underpants—complete with underpants-over-tights costume and a complete lack of actual superpowers. The books are famous for their flip-o-rama animation pages, potty humor, and frequent battles against villains with names like Professor Poopypants and the Wicked Wedgie Woman.
To date, the twelve core Captain Underpants novels plus spin-offs have sold over 80 million copies worldwide, spent years on the New York Times bestseller list, and consistently rank among the most frequently challenged/banned books in American schools—something Dav Pilkey has always worn as a badge of honor.
DreamWorks has not yet announced a director, writer, or voice cast, but industry insiders suggest the studio is eyeing talent with a proven track record in broad, family-friendly comedy. Early rumors mention possible interest from directors who worked on Despicable Me or the Madagascar franchise.
Dav Pilkey released a short statement through his publisher Scholastic: “I’m thrilled that Captain Underpants and the boys will be tra-la-laaa-ing their way to the big screen with DreamWorks Animation. I can’t wait to see George, Harold, and the Captain come to life!”
Further details, including production timeline and creative team attachments, are expected to be announced in the coming months.
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