Matthew Warchus, renowned director of Matilda the Musical and Pride, has signed on to direct the upcoming remake of the beloved children’s classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The film, which centers on a magical flying car, will be based on a script by Tony Award-winning playwright Enda Walsh.
The project, announced earlier this month by Eon Productions and Amazon MGM Studios, is still in its early stages. It marks another collaboration between the studio and the team behind the James Bond franchise, as they continue their search for a new MI6 agent following Daniel Craig’s departure after No Time to Die (2021).
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, originally penned by James Bond creator Ian Fleming as a bedtime story for his son, Casper, first reached cinemas in 1968. The film, directed by Ken Hughes, starred Dick Van Dyke as Caractacus Potts, a quirky inventor who, alongside his children, revives a magical racing car in pre-war England. The movie, a kid-friendly musical fantasy, featured a title song that earned an Academy Award nomination.
Warchus, a Tony and Olivier Award-winning director, is known for his work on both stage and screen. He helmed the 2022 film adaptation of Matilda the Musical, which earned a BAFTA nomination for Outstanding British Film, following his 2015 nomination for Pride. Since 2015, Warchus has served as the artistic director of London’s The Old Vic Theatre, where he has overseen the premieres of numerous plays, many of which have gone on to Broadway and the West End. He will step down from his role at The Old Vic in 2026.
Enda Walsh, the film’s screenwriter, is an acclaimed Irish playwright and screenwriter. His notable works include the Oscar-winning Hunger (2008) and the stage musicals Once and Sing Street. Walsh’s recent work includes the film adaptation of Small Things Like These, based on Claire Keegan’s novel, which reunited him with actor Cillian Murphy, a long-time collaborator.
The new Chitty Chitty Bang Bang film is shaping up to be a major release, with Warchus at the helm and Walsh behind the script. Fans of the original film and newcomers alike will soon be able to experience this classic story in a fresh and exciting way.
Related topics:
