Hollywood is heading back to Bedrock, with a new live-action ‘The Flintstones’ movie officially in development at Warner Bros. and Ryan Gosling attached as a producer.
Gosling and Jessie Henderson will produce the film through their Open Invite production company, although the project remains firmly in the early stages.
No director, cast or release date has been announced, and the studio is currently searching for a screenwriter (per Hollywood Reporter).
There is, however, one intriguing detail already doing the rounds. Rather than simply rebuilding the original cartoon around Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble, the new movie is reportedly expected to focus on Barney and Betty’s supernaturally strong son, Bamm-Bamm Rubble.
Exactly what that means for Fred, Wilma, Pebbles and the rest of Bedrock remains unknown.
Bedrock is getting another live-action makeover
Created by Hanna-Barbera, ‘The Flintstones’ premiered in 1960 and ran for six seasons, turning its prehistoric suburban satire into one of television’s most recognisable animated properties.
Of course, this isn’t Hollywood’s first attempt at putting actual humans inside those stone houses.
Universal’s 1994 ‘The Flintstones’ starred John Goodman as Fred, Rick Moranis as Barney, Elizabeth Perkins as Wilma and Rosie O’Donnell as Betty. Steven Spielberg served as an executive producer, and despite a rough critical reception, the film became a sizeable commercial success.
It was followed by 2000’s ‘The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas’, a prequel featuring a completely different cast. That one didn’t exactly have audiences screaming yabba-dabba-doo for a third instalment.
More recently, an animated sequel series titled ‘Bedrock’ was developed with Elizabeth Banks attached to voice an adult Pebbles Flintstone, the project ultimately failed to make it to screens.
The new film gives Warner Bros. another crack at resurrecting the franchise, but making Bamm-Bamm the centre of the story could at least offer something beyond another straight remake.
Gosling’s involvement also adds an unexpected name to the equation. There’s currently no indication he’ll appear onscreen, with his role limited to producing at this stage.
So, no, Ryan Gosling isn’t Fred Flintstone. At least not yet.
For now, the new ‘Flintstones’ remains early in development, meaning Bedrock’s return to cinemas could still be some way off.
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