Director Adam Wingard has provided an update on the live-action ThunderCats movie, confirming that the project, first announced by Warner Bros. in 2021, is still in development. Wingard, known for helming "Godzilla vs. Kong" and "Onslaught," told Polygon that the film is "still kicking around" and that a new draft was completed at the beginning of this year.
Wingard expressed that while his career has involved various projects taking precedence, including "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" and the A24 thriller "Onslaught," the "ThunderCats" movie remains a personal passion. He described the project as being put on hold due to other commitments, but emphasized that it is "not dead. It lives." He noted that finding the time to "re-concentrate and re-engage" with the project is the primary challenge.
A Passion Project Decades in the Making
Wingard's connection to "ThunderCats" dates back to his high school years, where he reportedly wrote a 272-page screenplay for a "ThunderCats" film. He has previously described his vision as a "new type of fantasy sci-fi spectacle film that people have never seen before," aiming to retain the distinct '80s aesthetic of the original series rather than a live-action interpretation that might stray too far from the source material. He envisioned a hybrid CGI film that would bridge the gap between cartoon and CGI with a hyperreal look.
The director's work on "ThunderCats" has been ongoing intermittently since its announcement. Wingard recently exited his planned sequel to John Woo's "Face/Off," which could potentially free up more time for the "ThunderCats" adaptation.
Multiple ThunderCats Projects Emerge
In addition to Wingard's live-action/CGI hybrid, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation announced in June that it is developing a separate, animated "ThunderCats" movie. Details regarding the creative team or release date for this animated project remain scarce. This marks another "ThunderCats" venture following the 2020 animated series "ThunderCats Roar."
The development of multiple "ThunderCats" projects comes at a time when studios are looking to revive iconic '80s properties. However, the potential impact of the animated film on Wingard's live-action vision is yet to be determined. The relative quiet surrounding Wingard's film has persisted despite the interest in '80s nostalgia, with the performance of other recent adaptations, such as Amazon MGM Studios' "Masters of the Universe," potentially influencing studio strategies.