Redwall concept poster from Imagen Films
Is there a Redwall movie?[]
A Redwall movie is in development by Netflix. Redwall has had a history of attempts to receive a big screen debut, however every single one has failed.
- In 1991, London-based Molitor Productions acquired the film rights to Redwall. Molitor later produced the Redwall TV Series, and according to a 1998 Wall Street Journal article, was going to produce an animated film afterwards. The latter never occurred.
- In May 1993, The San Diego Union-Tribune and the Tacoma, Wash., The News Tribune reported there was a Redwall "movie deal" and that there would be a movie in "a year or two."
- In a November 1995 Locus magazine interview, Brian Jacques mentioned "There have also been very heavy talks with film companies for the past few years. If they're going to make a movie, let them get on and do it ... But I have written the original screenplay, and I will have artistic control on the movie."
- In March 1996, Brian Jacques informed a fan "that a movie was being made" in a letter, according to The Ridgefield Press.
- In May 1996, it was reported by the Chicago Tribune and The Telegraph-Herald that movie deals were in the works for two Redwall novels. What became of these plans is unknown.
- In an undated Brian Jacques interview with Scholastic from the 1990s, Spring 1999 was stated as the "projected date" for a U.S. Redwall movie.
- In 1999, Brian Jacques stated via Redwall.org that a film adaptation of Martin the Warrior was "in the very early stages of script writing." It seems as if this fell through largely due to the fact that Nelvana was working on the Redwall TV Series at this time. Also during this year, the Sacramento Bee mentioned a Redwall "feature film" was forthcoming.
- In a 1999 interview with Biography Today: Profiles of People of Interest to Young Readers, it was stated that "Jacques has also written a screenplay for a Redwall movie, which will be produced and released in the future."
- At an unknown time, Don Bluth inquired about the rights to Redwall. They were unavailable.
- Around 2001 - 2002, Redwall.org's Ask Brian Volume 4 question series asked Brian Jacques if there would be a movie in the next five years. His response was "hopefully."
- Around 2001 - 2002, the Nelvana Redwall TV Series was canceled after its third season because of plans for a feature film adaptation of Redwall.
- In 2002, it was reported by the Liverpool Daily Post that Brian Jacques was involved in talks with Steven Spielberg, who had "expressed an interest in turning the tales into one of his blockbuster movies," and Jacques was "still waiting for news on that."
- In 2003, Brian Jacques was asked about adapting his works to film on an episode of British children's TV show Blue Peter. He responded "The people are always coming to me, you know, from Hollywood, and they call me 'Mr. Jack-wez' there, you know. 'How do ya say, Mr. Jack-wez?' And I don't mind. Let them, as long as they keep the integrity of the books."
- In 2003, it was reported by Publisher's Weekly that Nelvana held the rights to a Redwall adaptation, and that the Los Angeles-based animation producer The Gotham Group was working with screenwriter Andrew Marlowe. This project did not go forward due to complications with the film rights.
- In 2007, Blur Studio pitched a Redwall movie, but the rights were unavailable at the time.
- In 2008, the Redwall Wiki first reported the existence of redwallthemovie.com, a domain owned by Seattle-based production company, Imagen Films, who stated in an e-mail that they had "secured film rights and [were] developing a live-action/CG version of Redwall" for the year 2011. This was revealed to be a lie in 2009, according to Redwall.org.
- In 2012, the Miller Brothers acquired the rights for a Redwall film.
- In 2013, Alex Kain co-wrote an official draft script for Redwall.
- On February 4, 2014, production company Working Element (later purchased by RegalWorks) was revealed to have Redwall in its portfolio. In June 2014, it appeared on IMDB under "optioned" status.
- On February 10, 2021, Netflix acquired the rights to Redwall, inclusive of a movie and Martin the Warrior event TV series.