Since its 1992 debut, Bill Kroyer’s “FernGully: The Last Rainforest” has held a special place in the hearts of ’90s kids. For proof, look to the fan-made movie poster that began circulating in 2023, which teased “Euphoria” star Zendaya as the lead in a live-action adaptation of the beloved film. The poster went viral—despite the fact that no such project is in the works.
Or is it? Following the initial fake news, authentic reports surfaced about the expansion of a “FernGully” film and TV universe. Machine Media Advisors and Moonheart Entertainment are currently in talks with studios about reviving “FernGully” with live-action and animated projects. If you’re a fan of the animated fantasy feature, discover all the latest details about a potential “FernGully” remake and franchise expansion here.
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“FernGully: The Last Rainforest” takes place in a picturesque Australian rainforest and follows a group of fairies who are trying to protect their environment from pollution, humans, and evil spirits—like Tim Curry’s Hexxus, who has become a cult-favorite villain among fans.
In the film, the fairy Crysta (Samantha Mathis) stumbles upon a young lumberjack named Zak (Jonathan Ward), who she shrinks in an effort to protect him from a falling tree. As she tries to reverse the spell, she soon learns the real reason behind the humans’ return: to destroy the forest. With the help of all of the fairies and animals of FernGully—including batty Batty Koda (Robin Williams)—Crysta and Zak band together to protect the forest from the loggers and also Hexxus, who regains strength through pollution and forest destruction. Hexxus’ mission is to destroy all of nature and mankind.
The rest of the ensemble voice cast includes Christian Slater, Grace Zabriskie, Geoffrey Blake, Robert Pastorelli, Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, Tone Loc, Townsend Coleman, and Brian Cummings.
Upon its original release, “FernGully: The Last Rainforest” earned over $32 million at the worldwide box office. And for Earth Day that year, it became the first film shown at the United Nations General Assembly. The production committed a portion of its proceeds to Greenpeace and the Rainforest Foundation, raising awareness of the growing global climate issues.
In 1998, the film received a direct-to-video sequel, “FernGully 2: The Magical Rescue,” with a new voice cast including Laura Erlich, Matt K. Miller, and Digory Oaks.
In 2021, ahead of the film’s 30th anniversary, Shout! Studios and Machine Media Advisors announced a new multi-year distribution deal for “FernGully.” The deal gave Shout! the exclusive worldwide rights for future distribution on digital, video-on-demand, broadcast, theatrical, and home entertainment platforms, including the 2022 Blu-ray re-release packed with special features like never-before-seen pencil sketches, character and animation tests, commentaries, and featurettes.
Following the deal, rumors of a live-action “FernGully: The Last Rainforest” remake popped up in 2023, thanks largely to a fan-made poster posted on Facebook. Not only was Zendaya touted as live-action Crysta, but Benedict Cumberbatch and Jim Carrey were advertised as playing Hexxus and Batty Koda, respectively. The poster also had key studio and release date details, stating that the Disney-produced film was coming to theaters on Christmas Day 2024. Emma Thompson and Lukas Gage were also shown to be attached to the project, with Alan Silvestri providing the soundtrack.
But the viral “FernGully” movie poster is, unfortunately, not real.
While Disney purchased 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios) and the majority of its assets in 2019, neither 20th Century nor Walt Disney Pictures have a film on its release schedule for this Christmas. (The Disney-owned Searchlight Pictures biopic “A Complete Unknown,” starring Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, is due in theaters that day.)
Disney’s next titles to be released are “Moana 2” on Nov. 27 and “Mufasa: The Lion King” on Dec. 20; next up for 20th Century is the live-action espionage thriller “The Amateur,” due out April 11, 2025.
But don’t lose hope. A “FernGully” remake gained momentum in November 2023 when Machine Media (led by Jonathan Sheinberg, Susan Sheinberg, and Matt Feige) announced the acquisition of the animated film and all associated rights. The team, in collaboration with partner Moonheart Entertainment (Moonli Singha, Rósa Gudmundsdóttir, and Krystine Beneke), is now in the process of reimagining the original concept with new stories, worlds, and characters while still honoring the original.
According to the November 2023 press release, they are in discussions with major studios for both live-action and animated additions to a larger “FernGully” universe, including the possibility of immersive experiences, theatrical productions, and more, sparking the imagination of fans and industry insiders alike.
“It has been a pleasure to bring ‘FernGully’ back to life in the modern digital era,” Sheinberg said. “It’s a film that matters deeply to so many people, and we’re excited to continue the legacy of this beloved title.”
While the world-building for the “FernGully” cinematic universe seems to be underway, it’s unclear where Machine Media and Moonheart are in the development process and how soon we are to an official project announcement. We also don’t know if the project will be animated, live-action, or live and in person, so casting notices are unlikely to appear anytime soon, either.
However, if you’re looking for more projects about gods, men, spirits, or faes, there are plenty of major fantasy projects and adaptations that could be seeking actors in the nearer future, including the upcoming “Twilight” animated series adaptation from Netflix. Here are more guides to help start your journey:
- Everything We Know About Netflix’s ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ Adaptation
- Everything We Know About the ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ TV Series
- How to Get Cast on ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’
- How to Get Cast on HBO’s ‘House of the Dragon’
- How to Get Cast on ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’
If you’re looking to get involved with a project immediately, bookmark our main casting page or check out our current roundups of background and voiceover gigs actively searching for talent now.
Also, keep checking back here for more updates on the growing “FernGully” universe!
