Clifford the Big Red Dog (film)

Clifford the Big Red Dog is an upcoming American live-action family comedy film directed by Walt Becker and written by Justin Malen and Ellen Rapoport. It is based on Norman Bridwell's series of children's books of the same name. The film stars Darby Camp, Jack Whitehall, John Cleese, Sienna Guillory, Kenan Thompson, and Rosie Perez.

Cast

 * Darby Camp as Emily Elizabeth
 * Jack Whitehall as Uncle Casey
 * Izaac Wang as Owen Yu
 * John Cleese
 * Sienna Guillory
 * Kenan Thompson
 * Rosie Perez
 * David Alan Grier

Development
In May 2012, it was reported that Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment would produce a live-action/animated film based on the book. Matt Lopez was hired to write the script while Chris Meledandri and Deborah Forte were to produce, but in July 2013, it was reported that Illumination cancelled the project. On September 13, 2013, it was reported that the film was still in development at Universal Pictures with David Bowers in talks to direct the film. Like the 2011 film Hop, the titular dog character will be animated while the other characters will be live-action.

In 2016, Paramount Pictures had purchased the rights to develop a live-action and animated hybrid film. On September 25, 2017, it was reported that Walt Becker had been hired to direct from a script being re-written by Ellen Rapoport, and from the original written by Justin Malen, which would be produced by Forte through her Silvertongue Films banner.

Casting
In May 2019, Darby Camp and Jack Whitehall signed on to star in the film. In June 2019, John Cleese, Sienna Guillory, Izaac Wang, Kenan Thompson, Rosie Perez, David Alan Grier, Keith Ewell, Bear Allen Blaine, and Lynn Cohen joined the cast.

Filming
Principal photography began in July 2019 in New York City.

Release
Clifford the Big Red Dog is scheduled for release on November 13, 2020, by Paramount Pictures. Universal Pictures initially slated the film for April 8, 2016 and then pushed back to December 31, 2016.