Following the acquisition of Paws, Inc., the rightsholder to the beloved lasagna-eating cat, Viacom has announced that a new series surrounding the long-running comic strip character Garfield is in the works at family-friendly network Nickelodeon!
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“This acquisition marks another step in our evolution toward being kids’ first stop for the best new content and characters, so we’re incredibly happy to have Garfield join our growing roster of globally loved franchises and to introduce this cool cat to a new generation of fans,” Nickelodeon’s President, Brian Robbins, said in a statement.
Originally created by Jim Davis in 1978 as a comic strip in newspapers, the orange cat has become a media phenomenon in the years since, with numerous TV series and specials being spawned featuring Lorenzo Music voicing the titular character, as well as two live-action/CGI hybrid films with Ghostbusters‘ Bill Murray voicing the character and starring Breckin Meyer (Franklin & Bash) and Jennifer Love Hewitt (911).
“I’ve always tried to make people laugh with humor that is classic and appealing to both kids and adults. I’m delighted that Garfield is going to be placed in the capable hands of the folks at Nick,” Davis said. “They know how to entertain and will be great stewards for the franchise. I am also excited to continue to do the thing that gets me out of bed every morning…the comic strip!”
While the animated series is in the works, Davis will continue to produce the syndicated comic strip.
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“Great content is core to the strength of our brands, and Garfield is a beloved character that continues to be part of the cultural zeitgeist with universal resonance across all ages,” Sarah Levy, Chief Operating Officer of Viacom Media Networks, said in a statement. “The acquisition of Paws, Inc. provides another opportunity for Viacom to leverage our platforms to extend the global reach of iconic IP.”
