Magic School Bus Live-Action Movie in Development
Originally published Jun 23, 2026
By Rebecca Rubin · Variety
AI-generated summary based on Variety · Aggregated by Filmarian · Human-reviewed and approved on Jun 23, 2026
Key points
- Elizabeth Banks will play Ms. Frizzle in the live-action 'Magic School Bus' movie.
- Legendary Entertainment has acquired the rights to the film from Universal.
- Rob Letterman, known for 'Detective Pikachu,' will write and direct the film.
- The project has been in development for six years and is now regaining momentum.
- The movie aims to capture the adventurous and educational essence of the original series.
A live-action adaptation of 'The Magic School Bus' is moving forward with Elizabeth Banks set to portray the iconic teacher, Ms. Frizzle. Legendary Entertainment has taken over the project from Universal, which had initially secured the rights in 2020. Rob Letterman, known for directing 'Detective Pikachu' and 'Shark Tale,' will write and direct the film. The project, which has been in development for six years, aims to bring the beloved educational series to the big screen. The movie is expected to retain the adventurous and educational spirit of the original animated series.
Read the original story: Variety — by Rebecca Rubin