A big thanks to Noah for pointing this out: Sony Pictures currently owns the animorphs.net domain name. However, before you get too excited, you should know that going to that domain simply takes you to a default landing page on their site. As of yet, there is no official announcement regarding an Animorphs movie.
I researched this a bit and it looks like this was not a recent purchase. In fact, Sony bought this domain on December 8th, 2009 — approximately a week before we officially confirmed the Animorphs relaunch here on Hirac Delest. So most likely this was just one of the few possible domain names seized in preparation of the reprints.
As to why it is registered by Sony Pictures and leads to them, instead of Scholastic? The most likely reason is that Sony Pictures owns Columbia TriStar Home Video, which was the company responsible for distributing the old TV Show on VHS. As far as I know, the licensing agreement and distribution rights still stand (Source: Scholastic/Columbia TriStar Press Release, 1998).
But forget about the TV show for a moment, because what we’re all really interested in is the possible production of a movie release, right? So here is what we do know: Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant (co-authors of Animorphs) both replied to a Q&A in early 2008 saying that they had been seriously approached by a producer for an Animorphs movie (Source), but that never seemed to go anywhere past the original pitch.
However, from what I’ve been told, Scholastic still does want to make it happen, and that at one point Scholastic did have plans for a feature length Animorphs movie on the back burner for over a year. Whether or not they still do after the cancellation of the relaunch, I have no idea. But this information has been passed on to me by more than one anonymous source involved with Scholastic.
That all said, this is still not official, and the circumstances haven’t changed: Scholastic still needs to know if there is a market for Animorphs. The relaunch was a way to gauge that, but the low sales and eventual cancellation of the reprints have not been a good sign.
So what can we do to help change this? At the current moment, the animorphs.net domain is registered until December 8th, 2013. If the Animorphs fan base wants to build any kind of campaign to help convince Scholastic, then consider this as the deadline. Until there is something that lets Scholastic know there will a reasonable profit in pursuing a movie or a 2.0 book series, we will not see it happen anytime in the near future.
I think that covers everything for now. As always, we will keep you updated should there be any official progress in the continuation of Animorphs. Also, if anyone comes across anything else that is interesting, then please be sure to forward it to us to have a look. (And if TPTB are reading this up at Scholastic HQ, then get a hold of me too — I want to help make this happen just as much as you do!)
The failed relaunch guarantees this won’t happen. Too much money to invest in a movie, and if they can’t even resell a line of books that initially sold millions, you can imagine it would be difficult to get millions of viewers to the theatre. (You need about 16 million ticket sales to break 100 million in box office receipts — a common benchmark for live action kids movies.)
Comment by Robert — December 11, 2012 @ 5:44 pm
Scholastic also confirmed the possible theatric Goosebumbs movie
Comment by Underseen — December 12, 2012 @ 10:31 pm
I really hope this will happen. This is what I like about this site. I admit I’m not a very active viewer of hiracdelest. But boy, every time I stumble on this, I feel like I’m on fire. It reminds me of my never ending love to my favorite series Animorphs!
As a fan, I’ll do my part. I’ll be buying the first relaunch book “The Invasion.”
Please everyone, keep your fingers crossed for this!
Comment by Lorraine — December 12, 2012 @ 10:36 pm
[…] Following up from our previous post, there is no doubt at all now that Scholastic had something in the works for over a year. However, it still remains to be seen as to whether or not they intend to go ahead with their plans. Remember that the relaunch is cancelled and that these domains are not recent purchases. In fact, they are over 3 years old, and Scholastic still hasn’t released any official statement to make us think this is a sure thing. […]
Pingback by Hirac Delest » Sony Pictures also owns AnimorphsMovie.com! — December 13, 2012 @ 11:38 am
The books didn’t sell well because Scholastic barely tried in marketing them. They just kinda… made them and shipped them out. No advertising. Not once did I see Animorphs in the promotional Scholastic e-mails I got advertising new kids’ books.
Comment by Jordan — December 15, 2012 @ 9:12 pm
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2570942/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast
I don’t know if you knew this exsisted.
Comment by Elfera — February 15, 2013 @ 12:23 am
@Elfera: That is not official. It’s a fan made film that was being made by Adam Hawker on Youtube. They never finished it, but they did release a ‘rough draft’ of it online: http://youtu.be/Nc0RH125gCU
Comment by Issam — February 15, 2013 @ 2:05 pm
GOD I miss Animorphs! T~T My fingers are crossed for a film. *Malaysian fan*
Comment by Ezehelm — March 18, 2013 @ 9:10 am
Oh man, I want this to suceed! They didn’t finish the series, and in the library they don’t have all the books… and hey, we’re in 2013 not 1999. WHY NOT MAKE A FILM?????!!!!!
Comment by Cattou — May 15, 2013 @ 7:34 pm
Come on Sony! DONT FAIL ME NOW!!!
I have been wanting to see a movie of this since I read the books in 2002!!! I don’t want to wait until 2092 when I’m 100 years old! I’ll be the only old lady in the movie theater then!!!! I want to be able to see this movie before I hit 30! I can wait another year but I am getting very impatient. I am glad Sony has the rights but they better not half-butt it like every other book-made-movie I’ve seen.
Comment by Megz — May 22, 2013 @ 4:04 pm