Clifford The Big Red Dog is getting a live-action movie adaptation and Paramount Pictures released the first teaser today.
"This holiday season, we're thankful for the pets whose love got us through the year," the voiceover says as the camera pans through a lineup of different dogs. "But next year, get ready to love even bigger." The shot ends with a final look at everyone's favorite red Labrador retriever who is clearly larger than the rest of the group.
The film is based on the popular Scholastic book series by author Norman. The books also sparked a 65-episode animated adaptation on PBS Kids.
The books and series follow Clifford, the big red dog, and his human friend, 8-year-old Emily Elizabeth, as the two embark on all sorts of fun adventures that also help serve as educational lessons for kids. The film synopsis teases yet another adventure between the two as they take on the Big Apple and "teach the world how to love big."
When middle-schooler Emily Elizabeth (Darby Camp) meets a magical animal rescuer (John Cleese) who gifts her a little, red puppy, she never anticipated waking up to find a giant ten-foot hound in her small New York City apartment. While her single mom (Sienna Guillory) is away for business, Emily and her fun but impulsive uncle Casey (Jack Whitehall) set out on an adventure that will keep you on the edge-of-your-seat as our heroes take a bite out of the Big Apple. Based on the beloved Scholastic book character, Clifford will teach the world how to love big!
While Clifford is a beloved franchise, the teaser has been met with mixed reactions. For starters, not everyone seems to be a fan of the CGI treatment Clifford has received. Some take issue with his coloring -- commenting that it looks like they dyed a dog red -- while others don't feel he is quite big enough (the synopsis states he's 10-feet tall). However, it's worth pointing out that Clifford's size is inconsistent even in the source material. Many others are simply soaking in how adorable the red pup looks.
Given that it's just a teaser, it's best that we reserve judgment until an actual trailer arrives. Clifford The Big Red Dog is slated to hit theaters in 2021.
What do you think of Clifford's look in the teaser?