It’s a new movie, Charlie Brown
Get a sneak peek at Snoopy and Co.’s 2015 ‘Peanuts’ film
Two true loves will make a splash in the new chapter of the Peanuts gang.
The Little Red-Haired Girl, as Charlie Brown has referred to his unrequited love for years, will have a significant role in the upcoming Peanuts (due Nov. 6, 2015). So will Fifi, Snoopy’s poodle true love.
The red-haired girl character has overwhelmingly remained an unseen crush for Charlie Brown. While he has pined for her from afar at school lunch periods, she has rarely appeared in frame — primarily in brief appearances on TV specials. Now she’ll truly step out in the film.
“She looks wonderful, but people will have to wait a year and a half to see her,” says producer Craig Schulz, son of Charles Schulz. “We handle it very respectfully.
“We knew we wanted this movie to be bigger than any kind of TV special. To do that, we had to kind of go to the boundaries of where I would ever let anyone go in the Peanuts world.”
The character is based on a real-life woman in young Charles Schulz’s life whom he dated. When she turned down his marriage proposal, Schulz was crushed. But the two remained life-long friends until Schulz’s death in 2000.
Snoopy’s beloved poodle, Fifi, will also find her first movie role after appearing in television specials as part of a canine circus act.
“In the film, Fifi is going to be a great character,” Craig Schulz says.
The film will also include direct contributions from Bill Melendez, the creator behind TV specials such as A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Even though Melendez died in 2008, Peanuts director Steve Martino will use his voice for the sounds of Snoopy and Woodstock, just as they were in the television specials. The animated dialogue has been recreated from samples of Melendez’s original recordings.
“And it’s terrific that Bill Melendez will get a proper credit in the film,” Schulz says. “I take great pride in that.”
Snoopy will continue to refrain from human talk.
“Snoopy laughs and snickers. That’s how he communicates,” Martino says. “He’s the master of pantomime. It’s emotion conveyed through movement.”
Peanuts will return to classic locations such as Charlie Brown’s skating pond, his house and “the wall.” But the setting will not be brought up to date, continuing with the eternal look of the strip. Even the price at Lucy’s psychiatrist booth will remain 5 cents.
“We won’t see Charlie Brown whipping out an iPad,” Martino says. “We’re looking to create a timeless quality. That’s what they have always been.”