'Home' Writers to Tackle 'kidrobot' Adaptation at MGM

Following on the heels of The LEGO Movie, yet another toy property is headed to the big screen, this time with the help of a pair of writers who are well-versed in feature animation.

Deadline has reported that MGM is spearheading an adaptation of kidrobot, a line of pop art-inspired collectible toys. The company has hired Tom Astle and Matt Ember to write the screenplay for the film, which is planned as a hybrid of animation and live-action. Whether or not the ‘animation’ will be 2D or CG animation is yet to be clarified.

This adaptation originated at Paramount Pictures, who optioned the property several years ago.

For those unfamiliar with kidrobot: it’s a toy company that was founded back in 2002 by entrepreneur Paul Budnitz. It essentially functions as a producer and retailer of youth-oriented designer toys, which are blank figures that artists can paint and design how they want. Specifically, their toys are built and sold with a focus towards graffiti, graphic design, and other forms of pop art.

Tom and Matt are both coming off their recent success with DreamWorks Animation’s Home, and they previously wrote the screenplay for Blue Sky Studios’ Epic. Asides from kidrobot, they also have a project set up at Disney: a film adaptation of the illustrated fantasy novel Goblins, where they will reunited with their Get Smart director Peter Segal.

For more information about kidrobot, visit the website here.