“The Magic School Bus” is officially set for an adventure on the big screen. Legendary Entertainment and Scholastic Entertainment, the media arm of the children’s book publisher, have announced a collaboration to bring a live-action feature film adaptation of the beloved children’s book series to life.
Leading the way will be Elizabeth Banks, who will be portraying the quirky and fearless Ms. Frizzle. In addition to starring as the iconic science teacher known as “The Friz,” Banks will also serve as a producer alongside Rob Letterman, who will direct and write the film’s treatment.
This exciting news coincides with the 40th anniversary of “The Magic School Bus,” a series that has sold over 90 million books worldwide. Written by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen, the story follows Ms. Valerie Frizzle as she takes her students on magical and educational field trips aboard a shape-shifting school bus.
Since its debut in 1986, “The Magic School Bus” has gained immense popularity, expanding to television and digital platforms. The franchise’s most notable adaptation was the PBS animated series that aired from 1994 to 1997, featuring Lily Tomlin as Ms. Frizzle.
Netflix also attempted to revive the series with “The Magic School Bus Rides Again,” starring Tomlin and Kate McKinnon. The animated reboot ran for three seasons between 2017 and 2021.
This recent announcement marks Elizabeth Banks’ continued involvement with the iconic character. Initially linked to the project in 2020 with Universal Pictures, the movie rights eventually transitioned to Legendary Entertainment.