Amazon MGM Studios announced Friday a new, live-action version of the 1992 film “FernGully: The Last Rainforest.” 

Deadline reported that Marielle Heller is set to write the script and direct “FernGully,” and her production company, Defiant by Nature, will produce. Also producing will be Stacey Sher (Shiny Penny), Susan Ursitti-Sheinberg, Jon Sheinberg and Matt Feige (Sheinberg Feige Organization), and Leah Holzer (Defiant by Nature). Moonli Singha is set to executive produce. 

The Instagram account for Defiant by Nature confirmed the news with a post, which also announced that Sony Pictures acquired Heller’s other adaptation in the works—“The Comebacker” starring Tom Hanks. 

“Big week for Defiant!,” the post was captioned. 

Based on the book by Diana Young, “FernGully” tells the story of a fairy named Crysta confronted with the prospect of a logging company destroying her home in the rainforest. She encounters a human, Zak, whom she accidentally shrinks to her size, and he, along with other magical forest creatures, help her stop the impending damage to the environment. 

The 1992 animated version of the film starred Samantha Mathis as Crysta, Jonathan Ward as Zak, Christian Slater as Pips, Robin Williams as Batty Koda, Tim Curry as Hexxus, Cheech Marin as Stump, Tommy Chong as Root and Tone Lōc as Goanna.

About the writer

Danielle Haynes is the co-founder and co-editor of Booked & Screened, covering book-to-screen adaptations, film and TV development. Like most elder millennials, she was enamored by “FernGully” as a kid.