My Little Pony: The Movie (2017 film)

This article is about the upcoming 2017 film based on My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. For the original 1986 film, see My Little Pony: The Movie.
My Little Pony: The Movie
Directed by Jayson Thiessen
Produced by
Screenplay by Meghan McCarthy
Rita Hsiao[2]
Based on My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
developed for television
by Lauren Faust, and the
My Little Pony toyline by Bonnie Zacherle
Starring
Music by Daniel Ingram[3]
Cinematography Anthony Di Ninno
Edited by Braden Oberson
Production
company
Distributed by Lionsgate
Release dates
  • October 6, 2017 (2017-10-06)

[5]

Country Canada
United States
Language English

My Little Pony: The Movie is an upcoming 2017 Canadian–American animated musical fantasy film based on the television series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic developed by Lauren Faust, as well as Hasbro's My Little Pony toy line created by Bonnie Zacherle.[6] It is directed by Jayson Thiessen and written by Meghan McCarthy, both of whom worked on the show.[2] The regular television cast – Tara Strong, Ashleigh Ball, Andrea Libman, Tabitha St. Germain, and Cathy Weseluck – will reprise their roles from the series alongside guest performances by Kristin Chenoweth, Emily Blunt, Michael Peña, Uzo Aduba, Liev Schreiber, Taye Diggs, and Sia Furler. The film is produced and financed by Hasbro Studios' film label Allspark Pictures and animated through DHX Media,[7][8][4] and is currently scheduled for worldwide theatrical release on October 6, 2017 through Lionsgate.[5]

Plot

In order to stop a threat to the town of Ponyville, the "Mane Six" – Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rarity – must leave Equestria, meeting new friends and overcoming challenges in the process.[8]

Cast

Production

Development

At San Diego Comic-Con International in 2012, Friendship Is Magic head writer Meghan McCarthy commented on the possibility of a feature film based on the series, saying it was not in her control whether or not the film would be made.[15] The film was announced at Hasbro Studios' Q3 investor call in 2014, with Joe Ballarini originally attached as screenwriter and McCarthy as co-executive producer.[7] Hasbro Studios president Stephan Davis said of the film that "I think it gives us an opportunity to tell a bigger story, that maybe we [can't] tell on television" and that "[it's] also an opportunity to broaden the franchise".[16] The film is being produced through Hasbro Studios' film label Allspark Pictures, which also produced the live-action adaptation of Jem and the Holograms.[7] During PonyCon AU on February 22, 2015, it was said that the movie would be unrelated to the Equestria Girls spin-off franchise, and that the crew was "going all out on it, to make sure it doesn't just feel like an extended episode".[17]

Promotional banner for the film used at the Licensing Expo in 2015[18]

On August 7, 2015, Lionsgate announced that they would distribute the film worldwide, with the exception of China.[8] Series director Jayson Thiessen and McCarthy were both confirmed as the film's director and screenwriter, respectively;[8] Thiessen stated on Twitter that he would step down as supervising director for the television series to focus on the film full-time.[19] Michael Vogel was also signed on as co-executive producer alongside McCarthy, with Hasbro executives Brian Goldner and Stephen Davis as producers,[8] and screenwriter Rita Hsiao later announced as co-writer alongside McCarthy.[2]

The film was showcased at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival on May 10 along with eight other Lionsgate films to help sell the movie to international distributors.[20] On April 30, 2016, concept artwork and other information was officially revealed at PonyRadioCon in Moscow; the panel included additional plot details such as the main characters' transformation into "sea ponies" for a portion of the film.[21]

Casting

The initial Lionsgate announcement listed the television series' regular voice cast reprising their roles as the "Mane 6" characters alongside actress Kristin Chenoweth as a new character.[8] On February 12, 2016, it was announced that Emily Blunt joined the voice cast.[10] By April 27, 2016, actors Michael Peña and Uzo Aduba were in negotiations to join the cast.[9] On May 16, Liev Schreiber and Taye Diggs were confirmed additions to the cast.[2] On June 20, Ashleigh Ball stated through Twitter that she had begun recording for the film's songs.[22] By June 22, Schreiber commented in an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he had finished recording for an antagonist character in the film.[12] At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2016, singer Sia Furler was announced to be portraying a new "pop star pony" character called Songbird Serenade.[13]

Animation

Michel Gagné, who had previously worked with Thiessen on an earlier project Insanely Twisted Shadow Puppets, is assisting with special effects animation for the film;[4] he was later joined by Nik Gipe, whom he suggested to DHX as working for him on the film as an assistant.[23] It was later revealed the film would be utilizing Toon Boom Harmony, as opposed to the television series' usual animation software, Adobe Flash, Gagné also detailing about Flash looking too "cheap" to use for the film.[24] Marcia Gwendolyn Jones soon asked to extend Gagné's contract with DHX for two more months[1]

Music

The film's songs and score were composed by Friendship Is Magic songwriter Daniel Ingram, who first announced at GalaCon 2015 that he would be collaborating with a live studio orchestra for the film.[25] On his songwriting for the film, Ingram said, "I had to challenge myself to push beyond what had been done in the TV show; to write bigger, more epic."[3] It was confirmed through the PonyRadioCon panel that the film would have a total of eight original songs.[21] Sia will also be contributing two original songs to the film's soundtrack.[13]

Release

My Little Pony: The Movie was originally scheduled for release on November 3, 2017,[26] which was subsequently moved up to October 6, 2017.[5]

Marketing

The 2016 PonyRadioCon panel included a brief preview for some of the planned merchandise being developed for the film, including T-shirts and graphics.[21] When posting about new Marvel toys on Twitter, Walgreens licensing manager Steven Anne released an image of prototype packaging for Hasbro's My Little Pony toy line "Guardians of Harmony" containing the film's logo.[27] On July 27, 2016, the My Little Pony Collectible Card Game hinted on Twitter about a new set of cards based on the film releasing in 2017.[28] Several books related to the film have been announced: My Little Pony: Annual 2018, which contains "exclusive content from the My Little Pony movie" and is set for release on August 10, 2017;[29] and a story set before the events of the film, tentatively titled My Little Pony: The Movie Prequel, slated for an August 1 release.[30]

References

  1. 1 2 Gagné, Michel (December 4, 2016). "Spending More Time with Ponies". Michel Gagné. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Coggan, Devan (May 16, 2016). "Liev Schreiber, Taye Diggs join My Little Pony Movie". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Furminger, Sabrina (September 8, 2016). "Daniel Ingram is the maestro of 'toon tunes". Westender. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 Gagné, Michel (August 1, 2016). "Working with Jayson Again". Michel Gagné. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 27, 2016). "'My Little Pony' Trots Up To October 2017; 'Cafe Society' Changes To Platform Release". Deadline. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  6. ↑ Galuppo, Mia (June 20, 2016). "'My Little Pony' Movie Debuts Logo". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  7. 1 2 3 Greaser, Marc (October 20, 2014). "'My Little Pony' Movie in the Works at Hasbro Studios (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "The magic of friendship comes to the big screen in a new My Little Pony movie from Hasbro's Allspark Pictures and Lionsgate". PR Newswire. August 7, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Kit, Borys and Galuppo, Mia (April 27, 2016). "Michael Pena, Uzo Aduba in Talks to Join 'My Little Pony' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  10. 1 2 McNary, Dave (February 12, 2016). "Emily Blunt Joins 'My Little Pony' Movie". Variety. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  11. ↑ Kirsch, Becky (October 10, 2016). "Emily Blunt Can't Wait For Her Kids to See Her Movies — Except This One". PopSugar. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  12. 1 2 3 "Liev Schreiber Wants More Kid Friendly Roles". Jimmy Kimmel Live!. YouTube. June 22, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  13. 1 2 3 McNary, Dave (July 22, 2016). "Sia Joins the Voice Cast of 'My Little Pony: The Movie'". Variety. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  14. ↑ Lyall, Amy (July 22, 2016). "Sia's Songbird Serenade! Popstar to star in forthcoming My Little Pony film and will also record a single for the soundtrack". Daily Mail. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  15. ↑ Sims, Chris (July 15, 2012). "'We Love The Bronies': The Cast And Writer Of 'My Little Pony' On MLP And Its Fans". ComicsAlliance. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  16. ↑ Noonan, Kevin (October 20, 2014). "Hasbro Studios President Talks the 'My Little Pony' Movie, Expanding the Brands". Variety. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  17. ↑ "PonyCon Au 2015 Writers Panel (Meghan McCarthy and G.M. Berrow) Panel". YouTube. February 28, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  18. ↑ Lesnick, Silas (June 9, 2015). "Exclusive Promo Poster Gallery from Licensing Expo 2015!". ComingSoon. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  19. ↑ Thiessen, Jayson (November 11, 2015). "[Jayson Thiessen on leaving the show]". Twitter. (Self-published). Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  20. ↑ McNary, Dave (May 10, 2016). "Cannes: Lionsgate Selling 'Now You See Me 3,' 'My Little Pony'". Variety. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  21. 1 2 3 The_acz (April 30, 2016). "New Concept Slides & Info For The 2017 'My Little Pony' Movie!". Geekscape. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  22. ↑ Ball, Ashleigh (June 20, 2016). "Ashleigh Ball on recording film songs". Twitter. (Self-published). Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  23. ↑ Gagné, Michel (October 9, 2016). "Bellingham's Nik Gipe Joins Me on MLP Movie". Michel Gagné. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  24. ↑ Sethisto (November 7, 2016). "My Little Pony Movie Confirmed for New Animation Style - Toon Boom "Harmony"". Equestria Daily. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  25. ↑ "GalaCon 2015 - Daniel Ingram & Monique Creber Panel". YouTube. October 3, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  26. ↑ McNary, Dave (November 18, 2015). "'My Little Pony' Movie Gets Release Date". Variety. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  27. ↑ Sethisto (June 24, 2016). "Guardians of Harmony May Involve the MLP Movie". Equestria Daily. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  28. ↑ MLP: CCG (July 27, 2016). "MLP: CCG hinting on future card set". Twitter. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  29. ↑ Sethisto (October 23, 2016). "2018 MLP Annual Listed on Amazon With Movie Tie-In". Equestria Daily. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers: Spring Summer 2017" (PDF). Hatchette Book Group. Retrieved November 1, 2016.

External links

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