Netflix revives long-awaited Sesame Street movie after years of uncertainty

The long-awaited Sesame Street movie is finally making progress after spending more than a decade stuck in development.

The upcoming family film, which was first announced in 2012, is reportedly moving forward at Netflix after years of delays, studio changes and creative shifts.

The project was originally developed at 20th Century Fox with longtime Sesame Street writer Joey Mazzarino and producer Shawn Levy attached. Over the years, the movie moved to Warner Bros., with several major names linked to the production, including Anne Hathaway and songwriter Bo Burnham, who was previously expected to create original songs for the film.

The movie was once scheduled for a 2021 release, but production plans were disrupted following multiple delays, including challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, updates on the Sesame Street film had been limited.

According to a report from Jeff Sneider’s newsletter, Netflix is now taking over the project as the new home for the beloved children’s franchise. The streamer reportedly plans to restart development, meaning previous attachments, including Hathaway and Burnham, are no longer expected to be part of the new version.

Netflix recently became the streaming home for the Sesame Street series, making the movie a natural extension of the franchise. The iconic brand has remained popular for generations, with characters like Elmo, Big Bird and Cookie Monster continuing to attract audiences worldwide.

The upcoming film would mark the third live-action Sesame Street movie, following Follow That Bird (1985) and The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (1999). While details about the plot, cast and release date remain unknown, fans are hoping the new movie delivers a fresh musical family adventure.