The Bakugan franchise made a big splash back in the 2000s with a solid toy line and companion media that served as both marketing material and a highly successful TV show at the same time, and now the company behind it all is looking to make a splash yet again with a recent more.

Bakugan, like many other toy lines have done to great effect in the past, leveraged its unique designs to create a multimedia franchise that brought about a massive increase in interest for the toy line and the brand as a whole. This was best exemplified by Bakugan Battle Brawlers, an anime-style series that aired in Japan and all the major English-speaking markets in the late 2000s, crafting a narrative based on the toys that would see a lot of success both in boosting toy sales and as a show itself, leading to several more seasons and two different reboots. The IP got so big that it would even allow the Bakugan franchise to get a Switch-exclusive game release with Nintendo.

2:10

Related

Multiversus Director Apologizes and Addresses Player Backlash

The Multiversus game director takes to social media to apologize for the recent game shutdown announcement and address player backlash.

While the animated shows were successful, and the latest iteration is still being watched on Netflix, the Bakugan franchise is set to go into uncharted new territory. A recent publication from The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that a live-action adaptation of the IP is currently in the works courtesy of IP holder Spin Master and that the company has attached veteran Canadian filmmaker Brad Peyton to produce and direct the project, as well as co-write the script in conjunction with Lindsay Harbert. “Bakugan is ready for the film treatment, and I’m thrilled to be the one to bring it to the big screen for the very first time,” Peyton said in a statement following the confirmation. “With Lindsay and the Spin Master team alongside me, we’re excited to build a hit franchise with global appeal. I am confident we will create a must-see film event that does justice to the unique and epic world that is Bakugan.” Peyton has done a lot of interesting projects over the years, and his collaboration with Netflix has seen him work with the likes of WWE Superstar and Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson, most recently spotted reprising his role in Disney’s Moana for the live-action remake.

Spin Master has a lot of fingers in a lot of pies, including a lucrative partnership with Sony to make PlayStation toys for the company. The company also released an official statement concerning the upcoming live-action project, with Spin Master president Jennifer Dodge expressing, “As fans who were part of its initial craze now enter adulthood, we are thrilled to be working with accomplished filmmaking talent like Brad to reimagine Bakugan in live action, expanding the franchise for fans while introducing it to new audiences around the world.” A live-action show would certainly be more appealing to fans of the original series now, and the passage of time has certainly made the CGI that the show’s over the top battle system require to come to life much more viable. While there’s no doubt that the IP has waned in popularity, it could be seen as a smart move to wait this long, as the nature of the show requires a lot of work that now has a lot more precedent.

This isn’t Spin Master’s first foray into the film business, either. The company is also involved in the Paw Patrol franchise, which has a third movie coming out in 2026 from the combined efforts of Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount, the company responsible for massive IP moves like the Star Trek film franchise. If a live-action adaptation can catch on as its animated counterpart did in the late 2000s, it’s sure to be a winner for the company as well. However, fans will have to wait and see if the brand still has enough relevance left over to bring the sort of attention it needs to really succeed.

The Bakugan anime is available to stream on Netflix.

More

The Black Phone 2 Director Said The Horror Sequel Is Set During High School & I’m On Board

The Black Phone 2 has finished filming and when fans get to see the next part of Gwen and Finney’s story, they’re going to be older.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter