The Peanuts gang is coming to Apple TV+. The streaming service said on Monday that it was working on a new film following Charlie Brown and Snoopy that will begin production next year.
From WildBrain Studios and Peanuts Worldwide, the film takes the gang to the Big City on an epic adventure in which they learn the true meaning of friendship and make some new friends along the way.
“Fans of all ages have been enamored with Peanuts on Apple TV+,” said Tara Sorensen, head of children’s programming at Apple, who describes the streaming service as the “pre-eminent” home for Snoopy and his friends. “We can’t wait for everyone to experience this heartwarming new adventure with Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the gang in the Big City.”
The film will be directed by Steve Martino (Horton Hears a Who!, Ice Age: Continental Drift), who is no stranger to Charlie Brown and his friends. He directed The Peanuts Movie, which debuted in 2015. The untitled project is produced by Bonnie Arnold (How to Train Your Dragon, Toy Story, Over the Hedge) and co-written by Karey Kirkpatrick (Chicken Run, Smallfoot, Over the Hedge) based on an original script by Craig Schulz, Bryan Schulz, and Cornelius Uliano.
Craig Schulz has worked on several Peanuts specials streaming on Apple TV+, including Snoopy Presents: It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown, Lucy’s School, and One-of-a-Kind Marcie.
“It is so special to carry on my father’s legacy with an original story from me, my son Bryan, and his writing partner Neil,” said Craig Schulz. “Peanuts fans have been clamoring for another feature for years, and this film will bring joy to our millions of fans around the world.”
This film is the first three-way partnership between Apple TV+, Peanuts Worldwide, and WildBrain on a feature film.
Apple TV+ hosts an expansive library of animated series and specials featuring the loveable Peanuts characters. The platform’s collection includes It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and A Charlie Brown Christmas, all of which Apple TV+ will stream for free to members and nonmembers on December 16 and 17.
Apple TV+ members can stream the entire Peanuts collection, including Snoopy in Space, The Snoopy Show, and the Apple Original documentary Who Are You, Charlie Brown, which pays tribute to Peanuts creator Charles Schulz.
WildBrain Studios and Apple TV+ have extended their partnership to include additional Peanuts projects, such as an upcoming Camp Snoopy series featuring the adventurous Beagle and his friends having an “action-filled” summer. They’ll also meld minds to produce Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin, which will uncover Franklin’s origin story and how he met up with the Peanuts gang.
Additionally, Apple has launched a Snoopy face for Apple Watch with watchOS 10, available globally through the app store.