Get ready to climb on the Magic School Bus, spank a plankton, and raft a river of lava because Scholastic Entertainment is developing a live-action adaptation of the Magic School Bus. The company will develop the film, which will be a live-action hybrid adaptation of the beloved books and '90s animated series, alongside Elizabeth Banks' Brownstone Productions, Marc Platt Productions (Mary Poppins Returns), and Universal Pictures.
The Magic School Bus is an edutainment media franchise that began as a book series by author Janna Cole and illustrator Bruce Degen. The series follows eccentric elementary school teacher, Ms. Frizzle (voiced by Lily Tomlin in the animated series), and her class of students, as they hop aboard a "magic school bus" and go on some wild field trips to unusual locations such as outer space and the inside of the human body. The bus itself is capable of transforming into a plane, submarine, spaceship, or whatever else is required for exploration. Elizabeth Banks will star as Ms. Frizzle in the movie adaptation.
The Magic School Bus was first adapted into an animated television series for PBS. There were four seasons (52 episodes) released between September 1994 and December 1997, but the show continued to air in syndication for 18 consecutive years in the United States on various television networks. It has been broadcast in more than 100 countries around the world.
In 2017, a sequel series, The Magic School Bus Rides Again, premiered on Netflix with Kate McKinnon as the voice of Ms. Frizzle's sister, Fiona Felicity Frizzle. Lily Tomlin reprised her role as Ms. Frizzle. Award-winning composer, lyricist, and playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, Mary Poppins Returns) sang the theme song.
“We are delighted to bring to life the iconic Ms. Frizzle and her zest for knowledge and adventure in a fresh new way that inspires the next generation of kids to explore science and supports the dedicated teachers who help make science real and accessible for young learners every day,” said Iole Lucchese, President and Chief Strategy Officer of Scholastic Entertainment. “We’re also extremely excited to be working with such top-tier partners as Elizabeth Banks, Marc Platt Productions, Brownstone Productions, Universal Pictures, and all of the amazing talent assembled for this noteworthy feature film.”