A new Tom and Jerry movie is in development at Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, with Boston Public and The Office star Rashida Jones attached to write the script.
The Tom and Jerry feature is said to be a new iteration of the more than 100 shorts by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera’s at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) back in the 1940s, which went on to win several accolades before MGM ultimately decided to close down its animation unit.
Who’s behind the planned Tom and Jerry movie?
Per Deadline’s report, Jones — also known for her roles in Parks and Recreation and Angie Tribeca — has been set to write the Tom and Jerry movie alongside Will McCormack and Michael Govier. The project will be made under Bill Damaschke’s Warner Bros. Pictures Animation.
In addition to writing, Jones and McCormack will also serve as directors and producers through their Le Train Train banner. FilmNation’s Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris are directing, with Amy Adams, Paul Rudd, and Tessa Thompson also attached to the project.
Tom and Jerry has long been one of the most popular animated short film series of all time. It has also spawned various spin-offs since its inception, including The Tom and Jerry Show, The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show, Tom & Jerry Kids, and Tom and Jerry Tales. The series also received its first feature-length film back in 1992, titled Tom and Jerry: The Movie.
Some of the movies based on the series include Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring, Tom and Jerry: The Fast and the Furry, Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale, Tom and Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse, and Tom and Jerry’s Giant Adventure.
A Tim Story-directed live-action and 3D animated hybrid feature, titled Tom & Jerry, was released in 2021. It starred Chloë Grace Moretz, Michael Peña, Ken Jeong, Colin Jost, and Rob Delaney, among others.
