Ryan Reynolds and Free Guy writer Matt Lieberman is reuniting to adapt the iconic cartoon superhero Mighty Mouse into a feature film. Mighty Mousewho debuted in the 1942 short The Mouse of Tomorrowis a pint-sized superhero who was initially a parody of Superman with his super strength, flight and penchant for operatic statements like the famous catchphrase, “Here I come to save the day!” For his part, Reynolds is coming off the box office success of Deadpool and Wolverinehis first film in the MCU and his third as the titular superhero.
According to Variety, Paramount Animation has hired Reynold’s production company Maximum Effort to join the project alongside Lieberman.who wrote Free Guy, The Christmas Chroniclesand Scoob!. Brad Butler, vice president of animated features, will oversee the film. Additional details are being kept under wraps at this time, but it’s just the latest attempt to revive the character for the big screen, as there have been other versions in development in recent years.
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THE Mighty Mouse The character has enjoyed decades of popularity, appearing in dozens of theatrical shorts, a Saturday morning cartoon, and several reimaginings over the years. Despite its cultural legacy, previous attempts to create a modern Mighty Mouse film, including one of the writers behind Meg and Redparalyzed in development. Now, under the guidance of Reynolds and Lieberman, the project is taking on new life.
The collaboration between Reynolds and Lieberman suggests Mighty Mouse will take cues from the duo’s successful work in Free Guyimbuing a sense of humor into an action-adventure. This isn’t Maximum Effort’s first collaboration with Paramountas the studios have several projects in development, including an adaptation of the science fiction novel Starting villain by John Scalzi. Paramount’s focus on Mighty Mouse aligns with the industry’s current strategy of adapting beloved animated properties, as does its work with the Sonic the Hedgehog Disney live-action trilogy The Lion Kingor Warner Bros.’ Scoob!.
Previous iterations of the super-mouse relied heavily on slapstick humor and exaggerated superhero tropes, doing Mighty Mouse a natural fit for a modern parody-based adaptation featuring a well-known comedy actor like Reynolds, who made a name for himself as an arrogant superhero in the Dead Pool franchise. Furthermore, Lieberman’s history with animation projects also positions him well to craft a script that combines nostalgia with a new story.
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Reynolds’ talent for irreverent humor makes him well-suited to bring Mighty Mouse to the big screen. The Little Hero’s Exaggerated Antics and Parody Roots align well with Reynolds’ track recordwhile Lieberman’s experience mixing action and quirky humor could enhance the project’s tone. This adaptation of Mighty Mouse has the potential to be a loving homage while poking fun at superhero tropes. The main challenge will be making a character rooted in 1940s tastes resonate with modern audiences. However, if anyone can save the day to Mighty Mouseit’s Reynolds and his team.
Source: Variety