Matthew Warchus to direct Chitty Chitty Bang Bang remake with screenplay by Enda Walsh.
Matthew Warchus, director of Matilda: The Musical, has been confirmed to helm a reimagining of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for Amazon MGM Studios and Eon Productions. The announcement highlights a collaboration between Amazon’s studio arm and the producers of the James Bond franchise, with the project currently in the early stages of development.
Enda Walsh, best known for his Tony Award-winning work on Once and the screenplay for Small Things Like These, will pen the script for the new adaptation. Walsh’s experience as a playwright and screenwriter includes critically acclaimed projects such as Hunger and Sing Street.
The original story, written by Bond author Ian Fleming as a bedtime tale for his son, was adapted into a 1968 film starring Dick Van Dyke. Directed by Ken Hughes, with a screenplay co-written by Roald Dahl, the whimsical family adventure followed the eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts, his children, and Truly Scrumptious as they restored a magical car capable of flying and navigating on water. Together, they travelled to the fictional land of Vulgaria to thwart the villainous Baron and Baroness Bomburst.
Matthew Warchus brings significant experience to the project, having directed both the stage and screen adaptations of Matilda: The Musical. His other credits include Pride and his tenure as artistic director of London’s The Old Vic, where he has overseen numerous acclaimed productions since 2015.
The project builds on the ongoing partnership between Amazon MGM and Eon Productions, who are also collaborating on the next phase of the James Bond franchise. Further details about casting and production timelines have yet to be announced.
