According to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix has acquired the rights to make a feature film adaptation of Sesame Street. The streamer already owns the series rights starting in 2025 — now the property is moving toward theatrical release.
The auction for the film rights was competitive: Universal and Warner Bros. were among the suitors (Warner had held film rights for nearly ten years but never released a movie). Talks reportedly stretched on for roughly ~1 year before Netflix emerged as the winner.
Production will be handled by Rideback (e.g., the studio behind Aladdin and Lilo & Stitch). Financial terms were not disclosed, and no release date has been announced.
A reminder: Sesame Street has had feature films before — 1985 and 1999 — then spent a long time as a TV-only franchise. I'm curious — and a bit skeptical — about how this will feel: nostalgic retread, bold reimagining, or something in between?