Toys 'R' Us Live-Action Film in Works

Here's a headline that would've sounded unbelievable years ago: A live-action Toys "R" Us movie is officially in development.

Industry outlet Variety reports that Story Kitchen — the production company behind numerous recent video game adaptations including the Sonic the Hedgehog films — aims to "translate childhood wonder into a contemporary, high-energy adventure that harnesses the brand's 70+ year legacy in the toy industry."

"Toys 'R' Us remains a cultural milestone that sparks childhood memories in people of all generations," explained Story Kitchen co-founders Dmitri M. Johnson and Mike Goldberg. "As '80s kids who viewed Toys 'R' Us as practically a wonderland, we're thrilled to develop a film that embodies its spirit of imagination, adventure, and enduring nostalgia."

Early reports compare the film's concept to Night at the Museum, Back to the Future, and Big, alongside successful toy-based franchises like Barbie. While casting remains unannounced, the production team includes Story Kitchen principals Johnson, Goldberg, Timothy I. Stevenson, and Elena Sandoval collaborating with Kim Miller Olko of Toys "R" Us Studios.

"As our brand's first theatrical production, this film represents a thrilling opportunity to translate our retail magic to cinema," stated Miller Olko, president of Toys "R" Us Studios. "We're creating an adventure as limitless as play itself, capturing the electric excitement that defines Toys "R" Us. This story will visualize the imagination, discovery, and happiness that made our stores special for multiple generations."

Story Kitchen continues its trend of adapting gaming properties, having recently announced a Just Cause film with Blue Beetle director Ángel Manuel Soto. Their upcoming slate also includes adaptations of Dredge, Kingmakers, and Sleeping Dogs.