Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Nickelodeon Working On New 'The Smurfs' Movie

Nickelodeon is set to premiere The Smurfs, a brand new CG-animated series which follows the beloved characters embarking upon rousing new adventures in September 2021 - and it seems like Nickelodeon has even bigger plans for the iconic franchise!


In a Smurf-tastic new video in ViacomCBS' Streaming On series, Brian Robbins, President and CEO of Nickelodeon and Chief Content Officer, kids and family for Paramount+ revealed that Nickelodeon is currently working on a The Smurfs movie!


As the film is still under wraps, not much is currently known about the theatrical. Interestingly, Robbins mentions the The Smurfs theatrical in a video for ViacomCBS' streaming services, which may hint that the movie will be simultaneously released in theaters and on Paramount+, similar to how Paramount Pictures just released PAW Patrol: The Movie.

Blue and small, and standing only three apples tall, The Smurfs are set to make their Nickelodeon debut in an all-new series premiering Friday, Sept. 10, at 7:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The news was announced today by Nickelodeon, the number-one network for kids, and LAFIG Belgium and IMPS, the worldwide licensors for The Smurfs. All-new episodes will continue to rollout Friday nights on Nickelodeon and debut internationally in the fall.


The original series marks the return of the globally renowned characters to television for the first time in nearly 40 years and follows Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Brainy, Hefty, Clumsy and the other inhabitants of Smurf Village on all-new adventures, packed with humor, heart and high-stakes action. In the premiere episode, “Smurf-Fu,” when Smurfette rescues Brainy from a giant snake, the other Smurfs ask her to teach them “Smurf-Fu.” Next in, “Diaper Daddy,” when everyone is tired of changing Baby’s diapers, Handy decides to invent a robot that will do the job.

Upcoming episodes include: "Clumsy Not Clumsy" (#102), "Unsmurfable Smile" (#103), "Who's Heftier?" (#104), "Smurfs In Disguise" (#105), "DRIIINNGGGGG!" (#106), "Alien Smurf" (#107), "Leaf It Alone" (#108) and "Bringing Up Smurfy" (#109).

Leading up to the premiere, Nickelodeon will treat viewers to a sneak-peak on Monday. September 6 at 12:30 p.m. (ET/PT). In the episode "Where's Papa Smurf?," because of a mishap, Papa Smurf disappears and the only way to make him visible again is to get a whisker from Azrael. (#104A)

The voice cast pushing the charm and absurdity of the original comics to even greater heights includes: David Freeman (7 Promises) as Papa Smurf, the father figure keeping the other Smurfs in line; Berangere McNeese (Matriochkas) as Smurfette, a curious Smurf who is always ready to take part in new adventures; Lenny Mark Irons (No Man’s Land) as Gargamel, a conniving human wizard with a bottomless thirst to capture Smurfs; Youssef El Kaoukibi (NRJ Belgium) as Brainy, who considers himself the smartest of the bunch; and Catherine Hershey (Boundary Games) as Willow, the brave and wise matriarch of a new tribe of girl Smurfs.

The Smurfs CG-animated series acquisition is overseen by Layla Lewis, Senior Vice President, Global Acquisitions and Content Partnerships and Dana Cluverius, Senior Vice President, Current Series Animation for Nickelodeon.

The brand-new series underscores Nickelodeon’s strategy to be the home of the biggest franchises kids and families love. The Smurfs expands Nickelodeon’s growing portfolio of influential properties that already includes SpongeBob SquarePants, The Patrick Star Show, Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years, PAW Patrol, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Blue’s Clues & You!, the all-new animated Star Trek: Prodigy series and the Transformers co-production.

The Smurfs is a Peyo Productions and Dupuis Audiovisuel production, in co-production with KiKA, Ketnet and RTBF, with the participation of TF1 and with the participation of Wallimage (La Wallonie), of Screen Flanders, of BNPPFFF and with the support of the Tax Shelter of the Belgian Government and the participation of the CNC.

© Peyo Productions - Dupuis Édition & Audiovisuel - Dargaud Media - KiKA - KETNET - RTBF.be - 2021

About Peyo, LAFIG Belgium/IMPS (International Merchandising Promotions & Services)

IMPS, together with LAFIG Belgium, are the official licensors of the little blue-skinned characters ‘The Smurfs.’ Over the years, IMPS has worked in close collaboration with its agents worldwide to develop successful licensed merchandising, retail and co-branded promotions, publishing activities, broadcasting deals, theme parks, live shows and family entertainment centers that have secured the everlasting success of the Smurfs.  IMPS is run by Véronique Culliford, the daughter of Pierre Culliford, the creator of the Smurfs, who is better known under his pseudonym Peyo. Véronique has run IMPS since 1984 and controls with LAFIG Belgium the rights to the Smurfs characters and the Smurfs licensing worldwide.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 42nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of ViacomCBS Inc. (Nasdaq: VIACA, VIAC).

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Originally published: August 25, 2021.

H/T: Special thanks to @johnny_marrero!

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