Elizabeth Banks to star as Ms. Frizzle in 'The Magic School Bus' film
Elizabeth Banks will star as Ms. Frizzle in the first "Magic School Bus" feature film in the franchise's 26-year history, it was announced Thursday.
Her company, Brownstone Productions, is developing the live-action hybrid movie with Scholastic Entertainment, Marc Platt Productions and Universal Pictures.
No release date has been announced.
Banks is best known for her roles in the "Hunger Games" and "Pitch Perfect" franchises. She can currently be seen in the Hulu series, "Mrs. America," about Phyllis Schlafly and the Equal Rights Amendment.
"We are delighted to bring to life the iconic Ms. Frizzle and her zest for knowledge and adventure in a fresh new way that inspires the next generation of kids to explore science and supports the dedicated teachers who help make science real and accessible for young learners every day," said Scholastic Entertainment's Iole Lucchese.
"We're also extremely excited to be working with such top-tier partners as Elizabeth Banks, Marc Platt Productions, Brownstone Productions, Universal Pictures, and all of the amazing talent assembled for this noteworthy feature film," she added.
"The Magic School Bus" is based on a Scholastic book series by Joanna Cole, which centers on an eccentric teacher who takes her class on field trips in a magical, transforming yellow school bus. It was made into a PBS animated television series with Ms. Frizzle voiced by Lily Tomlin in 1994, and aired for 18 consecutive years in the United States.
A sequel, "The Magic School Bus Rides Again," featuring Kate McKinnon, premiered on Netflix in 2017.
