Untitled Flintstones Film (2022 Film)

The untitled Flintstones film is an upcoming family animated comedy film to be produced by Warner Bros. Animation in association with Hanna-Barbera, with distribution by Warner Bros. It is the third feature film adaptation of Hanna Barbera's classic cartoon, The Flintstones, following the 1994 live-action film, The Flintstones, and the 2000 sequel, The Flintstones In Viva Rock Vegas. The film is being directed by Tom McGrath & Eric Darnell from a screenplay by Matthew Fogel and features an ensemble voice cast including Lewis Black, David Schwimmer, Amy Adams, Zooey Deschanel, Anya-Taylor Joy, Sean Giambrone, Jane Lynch, Sebestian Maniscalco, Frank Welker, and Scott Adist.

After the critical and commercial failure of the 2000 sequel, the Hanna Barbera company was reluctant to license its intellectual properties for film adaptations. The Flintstone's previous creator Tony Cervone who was hired back in 2007, became interested in developing another Flintstones film when Hanna Barbera was bringing its older cartoons to its nostalgic theatrical footsteps, but stepped down directing it in 2013. But in 2014, the Madagascar directors had been tapped to direct the film based on a beloved Hanna-Barbera cartoon, and through Hanna Barbera's work with Universal Parks & Resort's comeback to create The Flintstones-based attractions he met Warner Bros. Animation founder Hal Geer. By 2014, the two were discussing a Flintstones film, and in July 2017, Hanna-Barbera announced that it would collaborate with Warner Bros and Warner Bros. Animation to produce it. Production was underway by 2019.

The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on March 17th, 2023

Premise
"The movie will focus on The Flintstones Family, and with a grown-up Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm. The Flintstones & The Rubbles are going on a family vacation, but, in order to make her daughter's vacation the best. he has to do everything to satisfy her daughter, and with the help of his trusty friend, Barney Rubble, but things get a little bit topsy-turvy afterwards, and Fred has to do things to make things right again. "

Cast

 * Lewis Black as Fred Flintstone
 * David Schwimmer as Barney Rubble
 * Amy Adams as Wilma Flintstone
 * Zooey Deschanel as Betty Rubble
 * Anya-Taylor Joy as Grown-Up Pebbles
 * Sean Giambrone as Grown-Up Bamm-Bamm
 * Jane Lynch as Pearl Slaghoople
 * Sebestian Maniscalo as Mr. Slate
 * Frank Welker as Dino/Hoppy
 * Scott Adist as The Great Gazoo

Production
Development

After the critical and commercial failure of the 2000 sequel, The Flintstones In Viva Rock Vegas. film adaptation, the Hanna Barbera company became wary of licensing its properties for film adaptations. According to Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone, the idea for a new Flinstones film came from bringing their older cartoons to other services; such transitions took time for the company, and Brandt and Cervone recognized that "our content business would be able to develop even further if we were able to combine this classic-beloved sitcom with that of video assets, and utilize them together for extended periods." Brandt and Cervone knew that the process of making a film was far different from that of making a cartoon, and wanted a film expert to lead the effort.

Following the November 2014 hack of Sony Pictures, emails between producer Avi Arad, studio chief Amy Pascal, TriStar Pictures head Tom Rothman, and Sony Pictures Animation president of production Michelle Raimo Kouyate were released revealing that Sony had been attempting to secure the film rights to The Flintstones animated movie for several years. Arad visited the Hanna Barbera company in July and December 2014 in an attempt to secure a deal. In October, Arad emailed Pascal and said he had closed the deal with Hanna-Barbera. Pascal suggested recruiting Hotel Transylvania director Genndy Tartakovsky to help develop the project, while Kouyate said she could "think of 3–4 movies right out of the gate" and expressed hope in "build[ing] a Flintstones empire." However, after the emails leaked, Arad denied that a deal had been made, stating that negotiations had only begun. BuzzFeed News noted that the emails did not take into account potential conflicts with Sony Pictures' corporate sibling Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Through Hanna Barbera's work with Universal Parks & Resorts to create a comeback with The Flintstones-based attractions, Horvath met Hal Geer, founder of Warner Bros Animation Studios. Horvath found Geel's creative process similar to his own, and felt he would be the proper lead for a Flintstones film. They had started more earnest discussions by 2016, knowing that if they felt it would not work that they could easily walk away. In November 2017, reports emerged that Hanna Barbera was collaborating with Warner Bros Animation and Warner Bros to make an animated Flintstones film. Then Horvath clarified that a deal had not been finalized, but that an announcement would come soon. Horvath hoped that if the deal was successful, a 2021 release date would be possible. In November 2017, Warner Bros announced that the film would progress with Horvath and and Jelenic co-producing. Horvath said the film was a "priority" for Warner Bros Animation Studios and Hanna Barbera and that it will most likely come out in 2022. He added that Miyamoto would be "front and center" during production. In December 2018, Warner Brother's president Tom Aschiem stated that the film was "moving along smoothly" with an expected 2022 release date. Furukawa also said Hanna Barbera would own the rights to the film, and both Warner Bros and Hanna Barbera would fund the production.

In August 2021, it emerged that Tom McGrath and Eric Darnell were directing the film after the discovery of a Warner Bros Animation animator's LinkedIn profile that included the film in their list. Following the full casting announcement, Horvath and Jelenic were confirmed to be directing, with Matthew Fogel attached as the screenwriter.

Casting

In January 2021, voice actor Frank Welker said the possibility of taking his role in the film would be "a splendiferous thing" and that if he were asked to voice a character, "I'll go in and play with great joy and happiness." In June 2021, Sebastian Maniscalco revealed he was voicing Mr. Slate, Fred Flintstone's boss. During an August 2021 Warner Bros Direct presentation, Tom Aschiem announced that Lewis Black, David Schwimmer, Amy Adams, Zooey Deschanel, Anya-Taylor Joy, Sean Giambrone, Jane Lynch, Sebestian Maniscalo, and Frank Welker would headline the voice cast.

On November 16th, 2021, Scott Adist had joined the cast to voice The Great Gazoo.

Animation
The film is being animated by Warner Bros Animation Dan Povenmire, and Production was underway by August 2020.

Release
The film was scheduled to be released in the United States on December 21, 2022, by Warner Bros. However, on April 20th, 2022, the movie got pushed back 3 months later to March 17th, 2023.

Possible Hanna-Barbera Character Cameo Appearance
On December 2021, it was rumored that the cameo appearance of any beloved Hanna-Barbera cartoon would be possible, they said that it could be from either The Jetsons, Yogi Bear, or Scooby-Doo would be possible. McGrath & Darnell said "Yes, there will be a Hanna-Barbera Character Camero appearance, but we're not sure who it is yet, so we'll keep it all a secret until the movie comes out next year in Christmas of 2022, we want everyone to have a genuine surprise about the Hanna-Barbera camero appearance."