Rob Letterman, whose previous credits include “Detective Pikachu” and “Goosebumps,” is attached to direct and is also writing the project’s treatment.
A New Ride for a Beloved Educational Franchise
First introduced through a series of children’s books created by writer Joanna Cole and illustrator Bruce Degen, “The Magic School Bus” became a staple of science education for generations of young readers. The stories followed the eccentric Ms. Frizzle and her students as they embarked on extraordinary field trips aboard a shape-shifting school bus capable of traveling through space, the human body, the depths of the ocean, and countless other destinations.
The franchise expanded well beyond publishing. In 1994, Scholastic’s books were adapted into an animated television series that aired on PBS and featured Lily Tomlin as the voice of Ms. Frizzle. The show ran for four seasons and earned a reputation for blending science lessons with imaginative adventures. Its popularity endured through reruns, home media releases, and later streaming availability.
A new generation was introduced to the property through Netflix’s “The Magic School Bus Rides Again,” which premiered in 2017. That series shifted the focus to Fiona Frizzle, the younger sister of the original teacher, voiced by Kate McKinnon, while Tomlin returned as Professor Frizzle. The revival ran for multiple seasons and updated the franchise’s educational focus for contemporary audiences.
The upcoming film marks the first live-action adaptation of the property. While plot details remain under wraps, the project signals another major expansion of a franchise that has remained part of children’s media for nearly four decades.
Banks remains busy both in front of and behind the camera. In recent months, she has headlined Peacock’s “The Miniature Wife” and signed on to star in and executive produce an upcoming Apple TV+ comedy from creators Liz Heldens and Matt Ward. Alongside those projects, she will now add one of children’s entertainment’s most recognizable roles to her résumé as the new Ms. Frizzle.
