Movie News: The Funko Movie is Really Happening

Following months of rumors and a leaked photo back in January that reportedly showed a production timeline with a Funko movie on the list, the Pop! vinyl figures are really headed to the big screen. Deadline confirmed that Warner Animation Group (WAG) is putting the Funko movie (not the actual title) into production.

“We’re thrilled for this opportunity and are committed to [making] an amazing Funko movie that stands on its own merit,” says Funko CEO Brian Mariotti. “This isn’t about selling toys or building a brand. The team at Warner Animation Group [has] a unique vision of what the first film should be, and we are extremely excited to take this journey alongside them.”

Having already navigated the cross-branded seas with its work on The LEGO Movie, The LEGO Batman Movie, and The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, WAG is familiar with weaving original tales using cross-fandom intellectual property. The studio is currently at work on Tom & Jerry, Space Jam, and the Scooby-Doo! reboot Scoob!, and maintains a robust array of properties, including Harry Potter and DC Comics.

Disney vets Teddy Newton (Jack-Jack Attack, Day & Night) and Mark Dindal (The Emperor’s New Groove, Chicken Little) will craft the story and direct, respectively.

Photo: Funko (but not from the movie)

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.