Here’s a funny thing: recently I took my best mate and his kid to the premiere of Mufasa: The Lion King, and while we sat waiting for the usual pre-show nonsense to proceed, the little guy asked if they’d ever do a Bluey movie.
No, I opined, probably not. Bluey is optimised for short form…it would probably struggle at feature length.
Well, out of the mouths of babes, hey? Very soon after my incorrect prediction it was announced that the beloved cartoon, currently Australia’s leading cultural export, is getting a big screen outing. The Bluey movie arrives in cinemas in 2027, with the exact release date to be later confirmed.
I need to keep an eye on that kid. He also complained at length about Disney’s seemingly endless run of live-action remakes derived from their animated classics, which strikes me as a remarkably astute observation for a 10-year-old. He may be after my job.
But in the meantime, here’s what we know about the Bluey movie.
Bluey: Season 1
First, proceeding with the assumption that you are across the general gist (six-year-old blue heeler pup Bluey has sweet, trenchant adventures with her sister Bingo, Mum Chilli, and dad Bandit), the upcoming film will be a CGI affair co-produced by Disney and the BBC. The show, created by animator Joe Brumm and first airing in 2018, was initially co-commissioned by the Beeb and Australia’s ABC, and quickly became a fave among both kids and their parents. It proved especially popular on streaming service Disney+. In fact, it was the most-streamed series on the platform globally in 2024, so Disney’s involvement makes perfect sense. Indeed, right now Disney is preparing to introduce Bluey characters and attractions to its theme parks around the world.
Brumm will be writing and directing the film, and the series’ voice cast will be returning, including Melanie Zanetti as Chilli and Custard frontman David McCormack as Bandit, whose vocal presence I’m convinced is responsible for the show’s popularity among Gen-X parents. However, Brumm has announced that focussing on the feature film will mean he is taking a step back from overseeing the television series, with the creator noting: “To be clear, this is not an announcement about the end of the show, but it is an acknowledgment that my focus will be on the film.” He also confirmed that the film script has been completed, so it looks like it’s full steam ahead.
And that’s all the news at hand! Bluey makes her big screen debut in 2027, with the creator and cast all on deck. Hope your kids haven’t outgrown it by then.
