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'Charlie Brown' headed back to big screen in 2015

Posted Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 12:18 PM Central

by John Couture

In today's news out of nowhere comes word that Charlie Brown and gang are heading back to the big screen on November 25, 2015 to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the first Peanuts comic strip and the 50th Anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Blue Sky Studios (the company behind the Ice Age films) and Twentieth Century Fox have been tasked with bringing the gang back to the big screen.

You may not remember, but the Peanuts actually made their big screen debut in 1980 with Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!) when Charlie and the gang travel to France as exchange students. It's easy to forget since it only made $2 million at the box office, good enough for 86th place that year (out of 96 theatrically released movies).

Wow, time sure has changed in the intervening 32 years. Last year, over 350 films were released in theaters in the United States. I remember Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown as well as I do because I was part of that $2 million haul. I was five years old when it came out and in a fitting piece of serendipity, I'll be able to take my daughter to see the as-yet-Untitled Peanuts Movie for her fourth birthday.

The traditional animation comic's big news was delivered in a surprising way, using the very modern piece of social media Twitter.

“This is a momentous step for the Peanuts brand. The beloved characters, Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the whole gang resonate with multiple generations all over the world,” commented Neil Cole, CEO, Iconix Brand Group. “This film will give us a new medium in which to engage consumers globally and showcase the power of the Peanuts brand, ” added Cole.

Charles M. Schulz debuted the beloved comic strip on October 2, 1950 and it ran for nearly 50 years before taking its final bow on February 13, 2000. For a certain generation (read: mine), we grew up on Charlie Brown and his TV specials.

In a time before VCRs or DVRs, there was just something magical about seeing the ABC "Special" bumper and then enjoying the holiday Peanuts cartoon that followed.

Craig Schulz, President, Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates, checked in with the Schulz' take on the latest project.

"We have been working on this project for years. We finally felt the time was right and the technology is where we need it to be to create this film. I am thrilled we will be partnering with Blue Sky/Fox to create a Peanuts movie that is true to the strip and will continue the legacy in honor of my father."

While we still have to wait over three years to see the Untitled Peanuts Movie in theaters on November 25, 2015, it's a pretty good bet that it won't take long to pass Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown as the highest grossing Peanuts film of all time.