Bluey is getting a movie, but the series creator is leaving
A Bluey movie is on its way, with everyone's favourite Australian canines headed to the big screen for the first time. Announced on Tuesday, Ludo Studio will produce Bluey's feature film debut in collaboration with BBC Studios.
Few details have been released regarding what Mum, Dad, Bingo, and Bluey will be getting up to in the film. However, we do know that the Bluey movie will feature the voices of series regulars Melanie Zanetti (Chilli Heeler aka Mum) and David McCormack (Bandit Heeler aka Dad), and include music from the series' composer Joff Bush.
The Bluey film will also be written and directed by series creator Joe Brumm, with series director Richard Jeffery co-directing.
"I really enjoyed the experience of working with a longer format on [special episode] 'The Sign' in Series 3, so going even further with a feature film feels like a natural extension of that," said Brumm. "I’ve always thought Bluey deserved a theatrical movie. I want this to be an experiential event for the whole family to enjoy together."
If Bluey's first feature film follows the same vein as "The Sign", it's likely we can expect another heartfelt and emotional story that's as much about parenthood as it is childhood.
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Interestingly, the Bluey movie will be a CG animated film produced by Amber Naismith (Happy Feet, The LEGO Movie). This has already sparked some questions and concerns regarding whether it will stick to the charming 2D animation we all know and love from the series, or venture into the 3D style Naismith has previously worked with.
The Bluey movie is set to arrive in cinemas in 2027, before being released for streaming on Disney+. It will also be made available to stream in Australia on ABC iview and ABC Kids after its theatrical run.
Bluey's creator Joe Brumm is leaving the series
This exciting announcement also comes with some sadder news. Brumm revealed that the feature film will be his last Bluey project for the foreseeable future, as he'll be stepping back from the show.
"I always said I wouldn’t keep making the show if I thought I couldn’t make any new season as good as the last," Brumm said in an open letter. "This would have been the case for me with a potential season four, so I’ve decided to take a break from my involvement in the TV series."
Acknowledging Bluey's phenomenal success, Brumm explained that he decided to leave because he was now struggling to "reach back genuinely into that four to six year old world and write authentically."
"In the event I can’t wrap my head around doing more seasons myself, 'The Sign' will mark my TV finale for Bluey and I wrote it as such," said Brumm.
This exit raises questions regarding how the series will proceed. Brumm is credited as a writer on every single episode of Bluey to date, and is the sole writer for the vast majority of them. His leaving the series will undoubtedly have an impact on how it is produced going forward.
Even so, Brumm was clear that this is not the end for Bluey, with the show to continue on without him for now. We can only hope that the beloved series continues to maintain the high bar its creator has set.
"Bluey has completely changed my life. It’s been an immensely satisfying thing to be a part of, more than I can really put into words," wrote Brumm. "Thank you for taking this show into your homes, the whole experience has been an impossible experience to describe."