Legendary Entertainment and Scholastic Entertainment have announced a collaboration to bring the popular children’s book series, “The Magic School Bus,” to life on the big screen with a live-action feature film adaptation. Elizabeth Banks will star as the quirky and adventurous Ms. Frizzle in the upcoming movie. Banks will not only portray the iconic science teacher but also serve as a producer alongside Rob Letterman, who will direct and write the film’s treatment.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, “The Magic School Bus” has sold over 90 million books globally. Created by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen, the series follows Ms. Frizzle as she takes her students on magical and educational field trips aboard her shape-shifting school bus. The franchise’s popularity has soared since its debut in 1986, expanding to television and digital platforms.
The well-known animated series aired on PBS from 1994 to 1997, featuring Lily Tomlin as Ms. Frizzle. A Netflix reboot, “The Magic School Bus Rides Again,” ran for three seasons between 2017 and 2021. Elizabeth Banks was previously associated with the project in 2020 when the film was under development by Universal Pictures before moving to Legendary Entertainment.
