CoComelon‘s big-screen debut is reportedly in the works. According to Bloomberg, the popular kid-friendly brand has linked up with Universal to develop a feature film that would appeal to preschool-age viewers around the world.
Bloomberg‘s report cites “people familiar with the matter,” who revealed that the proposed film is currently in development. Since the project could still fall apart, the sources chose to remain anonymous. The project would aim to hit theaters and would be born out of a partnership between DreamWorks Animation (a Universal subsidiary) and CoComelon owner Moonbug Entertainment.
A CoComelon movie would theoretically star the brand’s on-screen characters, who appeared before their young fans during the first leg of a sweeping U.S. tour. An animated film led by those personalities would have blockbuster potential, since the source material routinely ranks as the most-watched YouTube channel in the world. (Its Netflix viewership isn’t too shabby, either.)
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If CoComelon does make it into theaters, it would be yet another expansion for a brand that has already leveraged multiple retail opportunities over the past few months. In February, CoComelon characters became plush toys thanks to a pact between Moonbug and Squishmallows maker Jazwares. A month later, CoComelon came to kids’ shoes after Moonbug linked up with footwear brand Puma.
Big viewership, numerous product launches, and fast-paced IP development have become CoComelon’s status quo since Moonbug was acquired by current parent company Candle Media in a $3 billion deal. At the time of the acquisition, Candle Co-Founder Kevin Mayer told Bloomberg that the “best intellectual property for children is digital in origin — it happens on YouTube.” A CoComelon film would test the potential of that all-ages IP by bringing it to the big screen.
A partnership with Universal could have other advantages for Moonbug beyond the rumored movie. Moonbug has made moves to create physical, CoComelon-themed playgrounds that can expand the brand’s real-world presence. A CoComelon ride at a Universal park would be an interesting proposition. I can see it now: What toddler wouldn’t want to ride a CoComelon ride over and over again?
