Amazon MGM Studios is resurrecting one of the most beloved animated films of the 1990s. The studio confirmed today that a live-action adaptation of “FernGully: The Last Rainforest” is officially in development, with filmmaker Marielle Heller attached to write and direct from her own script.
The announcement, first reported by Deadline and subsequently confirmed by Variety and The Wrap, ends years of online speculation. Rumors of a remake had percolated since 2023, when a fan-made poster falsely suggested a Disney-produced version starring Zendaya and Benedict Cumberbatch. That poster was later debunked by Snopes, but the appetite it revealed among fans has now translated into a genuine studio project, this time at Amazon MGM rather than Disney.
Heller, the director behind “The Diary of a Teenage Girl,” “Can You Ever Forgive Me?,” and the Mr. Rogers biopic “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” most recently wrote and directed “Nightbitch,” starring Amy Adams and adapted from the Rachel Yoder novel. The FernGully assignment reunites her with Amazon MGM and arrives as part of a notably busy stretch for the filmmaker, who is also set to direct Tom Hanks in the baseball drama “The Comebacker” at Sony Pictures.
The producing team is stacked with heavyweight talent. Academy Award nominee Stacey Sher will produce through her Shiny Penny banner, alongside Susan Ursitti-Sheinberg, Jon Sheinberg, and Matt Feige through the Sheinberg Feige Organization (SFO Entertainment). Heller will also produce under her Defiant By Nature banner with Leah Holzer, while Moonheart Entertainment CEO Moonli Singha serves as executive producer. Sher’s credits include “Pulp Fiction,” “Django Unchained,” and “Erin Brockovich.”
The original “FernGully: The Last Rainforest,” released on April 10, 1992, was directed by Bill Kroyer and based on stories by Diana Young. Set in an Australian rainforest, the film followed Crysta, a young fairy who accidentally shrinks a human logger named Zak to fairy size. Together, they rally the forest’s inhabitants to battle Hexxus, an ancient evil spirit of pollution. The animated feature boasted a memorable voice cast that included Robin Williams, Tim Curry, Christian Slater, and Samantha Mathis, alongside original songs from Elton John and Jimmy Buffett.
Though the film grossed a modest $32 million at the box office, it became a bona fide home video phenomenon, with VHS sales robust enough to spawn a 1998 sequel, “FernGully 2: The Last Rescue.” Its environmental message and stylistic DNA have been widely credited as an influence on later eco-themed blockbusters, most notably James Cameron’s “Avatar.”
Producer Jon Sheinberg framed the new project as more than a simple remake. The team’s stated ambition is to honor the original while extending its themes and musical legacy across multiple platforms, a hint that Amazon MGM’s plans may reach beyond a single theatrical feature. The Sheinberg-led Machine Media Advisors, which acquired the film’s rights in November 2023, has previously signaled interest in building out a broader “FernGully” universe spanning animation, live-action, and immersive experiences.
Shout! Factory will continue to distribute the original 1992 film. The Amazon MGM Studios deal was negotiated by Verve Talent and the law firm Fischbach, Perlstein, Lieberman & Almond.
No casting has been announced, and Amazon MGM has not disclosed a production start date or a target release window. Given Heller’s parallel commitment to “The Comebacker,” which is scheduled to begin shooting in October, a firm timeline for “FernGully” remains to be seen. Still, the arrival of a seasoned auteur, a marquee producing team, and a major studio behind one of the most quietly influential animated films of the last thirty years suggests the long-rumored return to the rainforest is finally taking root.
