The Tale of Peter Rabbit was first published in 1902, which means that almost every person with access to books has read it or had it read to them. Seems like a solid audience to aim at for a big, Hollywood family movie, which may have something to do with the reason why Sony Pictures has announced that it’s making a live-action and animated hybrid film based the Beatrix Potter novels.
James Corden will voice Peter, Rose Byrne is Beatrix while Daisy Ridley (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and Elizabeth Debicki (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2) will also lend voices. The film is scheduled to start shooting early next year and be released in April 2018. Will Gluck (Easy A) is directing from a script by Rob Lieber (The Goldbergs).
Frankly, I’m kind of stunned that Peter Rabbit hasn’t been made into a movie of this scale before. Even if you don’t remember the exact story, the names are instantly recognisable to generations. In a world where every major franchise is getting its own movie, Sony has found a strong one.
[Variety]