The announcement of a live-action Rugrats movie certainly raises some eyebrows, especially considering the numerous possibilities and uncertainties surrounding what “live-action” means in the context of a show like Rugrats, which has traditionally been an animated series. While the nostalgia factor remains a powerful tool for Hollywood to revive familiar franchises, there’s no clear direction yet on how this live-action adaptation will be approached.
The Rugrats revival already took place with the 2021 CG-animated series on Paramount+, which was surprisingly short-lived, having been removed from the platform despite its fresh take on the classic cartoon. This has not deterred the creators from trying again, this time by shifting to a live-action format.
But what does “live-action Rugrats” really entail? The description could range from something as extreme as CGI-heavy productions like The Lion King’s recent adaptation, which leaned into hyper-realistic animation, to something simpler like actual babies with voiced-over dialogue in the vein of Look Who’s Talking or even Doctor Who’s “Space Babies” episode. The lack of clarity and the vast range of possibilities leaves fans unsure, but also a little uneasy about what such a translation of Rugrats could look like.
Jason Moore, best known for directing Pitch Perfect and Shotgun Wedding, will helm the project. Writers Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell, known for their work on Saturday Night Live and the recent Home Sweet Home Alone reboot, are attached to the script, which suggests that the film might have a humorous, light-hearted tone. However, living up to the cultural legacy of Rugrats in Paris, the iconic 2000 feature film, will be no easy task.
The reboot trend continues to keep beloved franchises alive, and Rugrats appears to be no exception. But as much as fans of the original series may feel excited (or apprehensive) about a live-action adaptation, it’s still too early to predict whether this new take on Tommy, Chuckie, and the gang will capture the same magic that made Rugrats an iconic 90s favorite.
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