Live-Action Hybrid ‘Rugrats’ Movie In Works From Paramount And ‘Pitch Perfect’ Director Jason Moore

Justin Kroll
·2-min read

EXCLUSIVE: Everyone’s favorite adventurous toddlers are getting the big-screen treatment unlike any film or show in the franchise before, with sources telling Deadline that Rugrats, the classic Nickelodeon cartoon from the 1990s, is getting a live-action/CGI feature adaptation with Jason Moore on board to direct. Saturday Night Live star Mikey Day co-wrote the script with Streeter Seidell.

Created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó and Paul Germain, the Nickelodeon series premiered in 1991 and became one of the network’s most popular series. It followed a group of toddlers — Tommy, Chuckie, Phil and Lil — and their day-to-day lives, usually involving life experiences that become much greater adventures for the foursome.

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The show would get rebooted in 1996 following three seasons and would go on to last through the 2000s. Its popularity led to three animated movies and a number of accolades, and has gained new life as a new generation discovers old episodes on streaming.

Karen Rosenfelt is producing the feature film, as are Klasky and Csupó.

Moore, the Tony-nominated director and producer of film, television and theater, seems like the ideal fit to bring these characters to life. His feature directorial debut, Pitch Perfect starring Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson and Brittany Snow, was a critical and commercial success; he served as executive producer on both of the sequels. Moore also directed 2015’s Universal movie Sisters, starring Amy Poehler, Tina Fey and Maya Rudolph and written by Paula Pell.

Most recently, Moore directed Shotgun Wedding, starring Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel, for Prime Video. Upcoming, he will direct two book adaptations: Guncle, based on the bestseller by Steven Rowley, and Emma Straub’s novel This Time Tomorrow.

Moore is also the creative force behind some of Broadway’s biggest hits including Avenue Q, for which he received a Tony Award nomination; Shrek the Musical; The Cher Show; Steel Magnolias; and Fully Committed. He also directed Jerry Springer: The Opera at Carnegie Hall and the Off Broadway hits Speech and Debate, Avenue Q, Guardians, The Crumple Zone, Superhero and Tales of the City.

Moore is repped by WME and LBI Entertainment. Day is repped by CAA, Michael Goldman and Rick Genow. Streeter is repped by WME and Artists First.

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