There’s a new Ms. Frizzle in town! Elizabeth Banks will take on the role of the eccentric schoolteacher in a new live action-hybrid film based on the Scholastic novels.
Banks will also produce the project under her banner Brownstone Productions. Universal Pictures and Marc Platt will co-produce.
“We are delighted to bring to life the iconic Ms. Frizzle and her zest for knowledge and adventure in a fresh new way that inspires the next generation of kids to explore science and supports the dedicated teachers who help make science real and accessible for young learners every day,” said Scholastic Entertainment President Iole Lucchese.
Joanna Cole’s original Magic Schoolbus books showed the fantastic field trips of Ms. Frizzle’s class. In the stories, the class boards a magic school bus with the ability to transform into any number of objects, allowing the students to explore scientific concepts first-hand. The series circulated over 80 million books worldwide.
What Exactly Is The Magic School Bus?
The books were later adapted into a much beloved animated television series. The Magic School Bus ran for four seasons on PBS with Lily Tomlin as Ms. Frizzle. The series aired in over 100 countries and won numerous awards, including an Emmy.
In 2017 Netflix premiered The Magic School Bus Rides Again. Since Ms. Frizzle retired in the original series, the bus keys passed to her sister (voiced by Kate McKinnon). Award winning lyricist/composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) created and performed the new theme song.
So, are you on board with another Magic School Bus adaptation? (Did anyone actually watch the Netflix series?) How do you feel about Elizabeth Banks as ‘the Friz’? Let us know in the comments!
For more on The Magic School Bus, Elizabeth Banks, or any other general pop culture, make sure to check back to That Hashtag Show.
Source: Deadline
