Popular preschooler series Thomas & Friends is on track for a feature film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
HIT Entertainment, which makes the TV version of the property, has formed a new unit called HIT Movies to produce the film, hiring Julia Pistor to head it up and to produce the movie.
Josh Klausner has been hired to write a screenplay for the film, which will feature a mix of CG animation and live action and is aiming for a spring 2011 release. Klausner’s credits include DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek the Third.
Based on Rev. W.V. Awdrey’s series of 1940s children’s books, Thomas & Friends is the top preschooler property in the world, having sold more than 100 million books and wooden trains.
HIT also is planning a new CG-animated TV series featuring Thomas for next year.
