DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. today announced that the studio has obtained the rights to Dav Pilkey’s “Captain Underpants” book series, with plans to pursue a feature film adaptation for the big screen. DreamWorks Animation development executive Damon Ross is overseeing the project at the studio.
The “Captain Underpants” book series tells the story of two mischievous kids, George Beard and Harold Hutchins, who hypnotize their school principal and turn him into their comic book creation, Captain Underpants.
“This is a joyous day for the countless ‘Captain Underpants’ fans at our studio,” said Bill Damaschke, DreamWorks Animation’s Chief Creative Officer. “We are thrilled that Dav has decided the time is right to turn his beloved property into a movie and we look forward to bringing the greatest Waistband Warrior of all time to the big screen at DreamWorks Animation!”
“I never wanted to do a ‘Captain Underpants’ movie in the past because, frankly, I worried that a movie might not be able to properly convey what I was trying to do with the books. Then I saw ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ and the ‘Kung Fu Panda’ movies. I loved the subtle way that morality and personal responsibility were handled in these very funny and exciting adventures. I felt that DreamWorks Animation would be the perfect home for ‘Captain Underpants,'” added Dav Pilkey.
Scholastic first launched the “Captain Underpants” book series in September of 1997 and there are over 50 million Pilkey books in print in the U.S. alone. Eight “Captain Underpants” books have been published in 19 countries and several have debuted at #1 on various best-seller lists, including The New York Times and USA Today.
