Sesame Street Movie Adds Night at the Museum Writers

While it seems like the current hot trend in the entertainment industry right now is bringing beloved film titles to the television screen, like with FOX’s current Lethal Weapon series and a number of other shows in development, the industry hasn’t been afraid of bringing beloved television shows to the big screen either. With next year’s Power Rangers film, for instance, looking to give the property a new cinematic look and feel, it looks like Sesame Street – one of the most beloved and popular children’s educational shows of all time – is being prepped for a return to the big screen for a third time as well.

We learned last week during our interview with producer, director, and writer Shawn Levy that a film adaptation of the series was in the works again. Levy even hinted at his and his team’s involvement in the new film, but it looks like the Sesame Street movie has officially found its screenwriters in one of Levy’s Night at the Museum writing duos.

Deadline is reporting that David Guion and Michael Handelman have been hired to write a feature Sesame Street script for Warner Bros, starting with a treatment as the studio works to develop a narrative for a family film version of the popular series. Guion and Handelman worked with Levy on Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, and also penned the Steve Carell and Paul Rudd-led comedy Dinner for Schmucks. Levy will produce the film alongside Michael Aguilar, and Guymon Cassidy.

Sesame Street was created in 1969 by Jim Henson and the Children’s Television Workshop, and since then has only had two feature films made out of it. The first, Follow That Bird, focused mostly around the character of Big Bird as the rest of the series’ characters embarked on a road trip adventure to find and save him after he was kidnapped by an older bird. Meanwhile the second movie, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, followed Elmo as he ventured into Grouchland for the first time in search of his missing blanket. There’s no telling how long it will take before more news on the latest film’s storyline is released, as Guion and Handelman work on finishing their treatment for the film first.

This is just the latest addition to Levy’s impressive filmography though, after his work on the Night at the Museum and Cheaper by the Dozen films, in addition to other solo titles like Real Steel, The Internship, and This is Where I Leave You. Currently he’s attached in some capacity to the long-awaited Uncharted film and the recently announced Starman remake also. Coming off the success of Netflix’s Stranger Things earlier this year and Arrival this past weekend – it’s not hard to see why he’s quickly becoming one of the most in-demand names in the industry right now. So with that being said, Sesame Street is just yet another popular, familiar title to be added to his packed slate. Looking at his resume and experience, it’s hard to think of someone more fitting to help bring Sesame Street to the big screen once again.

The Sesame Street movie does not currently have a release date. Keep checking back for more updates.