"Sonic Movie Producers to Create Live-Action Toys 'R' Us Film"

Here's a sentence I never thought I'd write: there's a live-action Toys "R" Us movie in the works.

According to Variety, Story Kitchen — the powerhouse behind recent video game movie adaptations, including the Sonic the Hedgehog films — is set to bring the beloved toy store to life on the big screen. Their vision is to "capture that childhood wonder in a modern, fast-paced adventure that taps into the Toys 'R' Us brand’s relevance across its more than 70 years in the toy industry."

“Toys 'R' Us is a cultural touchstone that continues impacting the child in all of us today,” said Story Kitchen co-founders Dmitri M. Johnson and Mike Goldberg. “As '80s kids who considered Toys 'R' Us one of the most magical places on Earth, we’re honored to partner to create a film that will capture the spirit of adventure, creativity, and nostalgia that Toys 'R' Us represents.”

The movie draws inspiration from classics like Night at the Museum, Back to the Future, and Big, as well as modern toy-to-movie successes like Barbie. While the cast remains under wraps, Johnson, Goldberg, Timothy I. Stevenson, and Elena Sandoval will produce for Story Kitchen, joined by Kim Miller Olko, who will produce for Toys "R" Us Studios.

“As Toys "R" Us first film, this project is an exciting opportunity to bring the magic of our brand to the big screen,” added Miller Olko, president of Toys "R" Us Studios. “It will be a journey as boundless as play itself, evoking the electric sense of wonder that is the essence of Toys "R" Us. This story will capture the imagination, adventure, and joy that has made Toys 'R' Us a destination for kids of all ages.”

Last year, Story Kitchen announced a film adaptation of Square Enix's Just Cause, with Blue Beetle director Ángel Manuel Soto signed on. The company is also working on adaptations of Dredge: The Movie, Kingmakers, and Sleeping Dogs.