Tom Wheeler to write a new draft of long-gestating Micronauts movie
Deadline brings word that Puss in Boots and B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations screenwriter Tom Wheeler has been tapped by Paramount to write a live-action adaptation of the TV series “Dora the Explorer” and to rewrite the Micronauts movie, based on the toy line-turned-classic comic series from Hasbro and Marvel.
“Dora the Explorer” first launched on Nickelodeon in the year 2000 and aired over 170 episodes before ultimately concluding in 2015. The educational series followed the titular Dora and her monkey friend Boots going on interactive adventures with the audience. It was nominated for seven Daytime Emmy Awards, winning in 2011.
First released in Japan in 1974 as Microman, the Micronauts toys were imported to the U.S. by the Mego Corporation two years later. The mythology was then expanded in a Marvel Comics series, beginning in 1979 where writer Bill Mantlo re-imagined the team as subatomic explorers in the Microverse. This comic series saw a number of characters introduced into the Marvel canon, some of which are still being used today. Director James Gunn also previously revealed a desire to use the Micronauts character Bug for the 2014 feature film of “Guardians,” but he was denied access to the character as the rights had stayed with Hasbro.
Subsequent takes on the property were offered in comic book form by Image Comics and Devil’s Due Publishing with each iteration offering very different takes on the toy universe. There is not yet word on whether any of those specific takes will influence the feature film version.
First announced for development nearly six years ago, Micronauts movie will be produced by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot and Paramount. Previous drafts were written by Deadpool and Zombieland writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.
