Jason James Richter in ‘Free Willy.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
Preview:
- Warner Bros. is planning a new version of ‘Free Willy.’
- Writers Mary-Margaret Kunze and Jade Halley Bartlett are writing the script.
- The Russo brothers’ AGBO company is producing.
Digging through the archives for recognizable titles than can be remade has long been a competition sport for studios and streamers alike. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the latest to emerge from such a trawl is Warner Bros., which is planning a new take on captured orca story ‘Free Willy.’
“How far would you go for a friend?”
Release Date: Jul 16, 1993
Run Time: 1 hr 52 min
Budget: $20,000,000
And the studio is not alone –– a whole raft of producers, including Lauren Shuler Donner (who was aboard the original) and the Russo brothers’ AGBO company are all overseeing this one, hoping to spark nostalgia in those who grew up with the original, while snagging a new younger audience.
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What will the story of ‘Free Willy’?
Jason James Richter in ‘Free Willy.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
The original 1993 movie follows a troubled preteen (Jason James Richter) who finds his purpose to free an aging orca that was captured from the wild and put into a local aquarium as a tourist attraction.
This beloved ’90s movie became a franchise that spanned numerous theatrical and home video releases.
Writers Mary-Margaret Kunze (‘The Boroughs’) and Jade Halley Bartlett (‘Miller’s Girl’) are writing the updated script.
When will the new ‘Free Willy’ be on screens?
With no director aboard yet and zero hint of when it’ll start production, we wouldn’t expect this one to swim in much before late 2027 or early 2028.
Jason James Richter in ‘Free Willy.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
Movies and TV Series in the ‘Free Willy’ Franchise:
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