LOS ANGELES — Movie studio MGM announced Monday that it has acquired the rights to turn the “Where’s Waldo?” children’s book series into a live-action movie.
British illustrator Martin Hanford launched the book series, in which the title character hides in large crowds, in 1987 as “Where’s Wally?” More than 55 million “Where’s Waldo?” books have been sold worldwide in more than 30 languages since then, and the series was turned into an animated show that aired for one season in 1991.
MGM described its “Where’s Waldo?” movie as a “live-action family adventure.”
“We are thrilled to be bringing the search for Waldo to the big screen,” said Jonathan Glickman, president of MGM’s Motion Picture Group, in a press release. “Along with our partners at Classic Media, we look forward to making a worldwide adventure that will appeal to ‘Where’s Waldo?’ fans of all ages.”
Eric Ellenbogen, co-CEO of Classic Media — which owns the rights to the Waldo character — will executive produce the movie along with Handford’s business partner Mike Gornall.