Prepare to see blue! After a foray into film, The Smurfs is heading back to TV for a new show. If you thought you were pumped about the last Smurfs movie, you might be even more jazzed to learn that your favorite blue characters have a whole new TV adventure awaiting them.
It has been a while since The Smurfs made their latest movie. Smurfs: The Lost Village was released in 2017. Fast forward three years, and the beloved characters are coming back for a TV show on Nickelodeon, per EW. The upcoming animated series, which is slated for a 2021 premiere, will differ from the franchise’s 1980s effort quite a bit, and in one critical department.
The Nickelodeon show will feature CG-animation as opposed to that which is drawn. Otherwise, prepare for some familiarity. The whole gang will be back! Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Brainy, Hefty, and Clumsy will all be present for the action-packed, humor, and heart-filled series that Nickelodeon vows to make. Alvin!!! And the Chipmunks’ Peter Saisselin and Amy Serafin will write, while Calimero’s William Renaud directs.
Let’s just hope that the new Smurfs TV show remembers the number #1 rule when it comes to making a Smurfs movie. The characters making their way back to television comes as Nickelodeon continues to cultivate its animated sector. The network has been home to The Rugrats and will eventually be one for a SpongeBob SquarePants spinoff.
The Smurfs should fit right in, and at an excellent time. It has been three years since the franchise’s last theatrical bid, which means the title characters should still be fresh in fans’ minds. While the Trolls franchise has been able to continue finding success in the film landscape, it is a great time for the Smurfs to make their TV return.
Television has been full of nostalgia of the live-action variety, so why shouldn’t animation be getting the same treatment? The franchise has been careful to connect the comics and the cartoons to the movies. So, one would think that the same will occur with The Smurfs’ upcoming TV show. If it does, it should be a pretty flawless flow from one iteration to the other for the Smurfs.
A vocal cast has not been mentioned yet. Fans will have to stay tuned to learn who steps behind the mic to bring the new Smurfs TV show to life. In the 2017 movie, Mandy Patinkin took on the iconic role of Papa Smurf. Homeland is over, so Patinkin may have some time in his schedule if he were to have any interest in reprising his role.
The Smurfs reboot is set to paint TV blue with a 2021 premiere date. I do not know about you, but 2021 feels like a pretty close date considering when the project has been announced. While you wait for The Smurfs to return, you can check out this summer’s premieres.
