“FernGully” is getting a live-action remake, and no, we don't mean another “Avatar” movie
“FernGully” is getting a live-action remake, and no, we don't mean another “Avatar” movie
Sharareh DruryFri, April 17, 2026 at 10:23 PM UTC
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Marielle Heller; Crysta from 1992's 'FernGully: The Last Rainforest'Credit: Daniele Venturelli/Getty; 20th Century Fox
The land of FernGully is returning to the big screen.
Amazon MGM Studios announced on Friday that the beloved 1992 animated movie FernGully: The Last Rainforest will be crafted into a live-action film. Marielle Heller, known for directing The Diary of a Teenage Girl and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, has signed on to both write and direct the project.
The original eco-friendly animated feature is set within the Australian rainforest, and follows Crysta (voiced by Samantha Mathis), a fairy who has never seen humans before. When a logging company approaches the forest, Crysta comes across a human named Zak (Jonathan Ward) and accidentally shrinks him to fairy size. Zak realizes the destruction humans are inflicting upon the rainforest.
Crysta and Zak rally with FernGully's fairies plus a chatty bat named Batty (Robin Williams) to protect their home and fight off an evil entity named Hexxus (Tim Curry), who feeds off pollution.
'FernGully: The Last Rainforest'Credit: 20th Century Fox
"Our goal isn’t simply to make a new film," said producer Jon Sheinberg in a statement, noting plans to expand the FernGully universe into music, merchandise, literature, and games. "It’s to honor a timeless classic and extend its powerful themes and musical legacy across every platform."
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Along with her FernGully adaptation, Heller's upcoming projects include teaming up with Tom Hanks for the baseball film The Comebacker.
'FernGully: The Last Rainforest'Credit: 20th Century Fox
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FernGully was released on April 10, 1992, and received mostly positive reviews. The film's score was composed and produced by Alan Silvestri, and its soundtrack included memorable tunes like Williams' "Batty Rap" and Curry's "Toxic Love."
A direct-to-video sequel, FernGully 2: The Magical Rescue, was released in 1998. However, none of the original voice cast reprised their roles.
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