The beloved children’s franchise "The Magic School Bus" is officially headed to the big screen in a new live-action adaptation. Legendary Entertainment and Scholastic Entertainment have announced that they are teaming up to develop a feature film based on the iconic educational series, with Emmy-nominated actress Elizabeth Banks set to star as the eccentric teacher Ms. Frizzle .

The project, which has been in development for several years, has found new momentum after Legendary acquired the rights from Universal Pictures . Rob Letterman, known for directing "Detective Pikachu" and "Goosebumps," is attached to write the treatment and direct the film .

Banks will not only star as the beloved science teacher but will also produce the feature alongside her Brownstone Productions partners Max Handelman and Alison Small . The film will be a joint production effort involving Scholastic Entertainment, Marc Platt Productions, and Legendary Entertainment .

"The Magic School Bus" originated as a book series created by author Joanna Cole and illustrator Bruce Degen, with the first title published in 1986 . The franchise celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026, having sold more than 90 million copies worldwide . The stories follow Ms. Valerie Frizzle and her class of inquisitive students as they board a sentient, shape-shifting yellow school bus that transports them on extraordinary educational adventures—from journeys through the human digestive system to explorations of outer space .

The franchise gained widespread popularity through the animated television series that aired on PBS from 1994 to 1997 . The show, which featured Lily Tomlin as the voice of Ms. Frizzle, became one of the highest-rated programs for school-age children during its run and was broadcast in more than 100 countries . Little Richard's iconic theme song from the series remains instantly recognizable to generations of fans .

A subsequent animated series, "The Magic School Bus Rides Again," premiered on Netflix in 2017 and ran for three seasons until 2021 . In that revival, Tomlin reprised her role as Ms. Frizzle while Kate McKinnon voiced her younger sister, Ms. Fiona Felicity Frizzle .

The upcoming live-action adaptation marks a significant new chapter for the franchise, which has long been cherished for its ability to make science education entertaining and accessible for young audiences . Banks' involvement with the project has been anticipated since 2020, when a version of the film was first announced while being developed at Universal Pictures . After the rights lapsed, Legendary secured the project and brought it back to life with renewed momentum .

While plot details and additional casting announcements remain pending, the film is expected to capture the adventurous and educational spirit that made the franchise a favorite among children and families . The announcement has generated significant buzz among fans who grew up with the books and television series, eager to see how the beloved classroom adventures will translate to the big screen in live-action form .

Production partners include a robust team of producers: Iole Lucchese and Caitlin Friedman for Scholastic, Banks and her team from Brownstone Productions, Marc Platt and Adam Siegel for Marc Platt Productions, and Mary Parent, Ali Mendes, and Cale Boyter for Legendary . No official release date has been announced, as the project is still in its early stages of development .

"Seatbelts, everyone!"—the famous catchphrase from the animated series—takes on new meaning as Ms. Frizzle prepares to guide a new generation of moviegoers on her magical field trips .