Here is some unexpected news from out of nowhere. As if Ryan Gosling isn’t busy enough following Project Hail Mary, his upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, and reunion with Shawn Levy on Marvel’s Ghost Rider, now he’s going back to the Stone Age. Deadline reports Gosling will produce, along with Warner Bros., a live-action Flintstones movie centered on Bamm-Bamm, the caveman-esque son of Barney and Betty Rubble.
The Flintstones is a property WB has repeatedly gone back to. The classic animated series from Hanna-Barbera ran for six seasons in the 1960s, in prime time, the first to ever do it long before The Simpsons. Two live-action movies hit theaters, 1994’s The Flinstones and 2000’s The Flinstones in Viva Rock Vega, which combined for over $400M worldwide.
The new film will center on an adult Bamm-Bamm, the club-swinging kiddo of Barney and Betty. Aging him up is an idea that was tackled previously in CBS’ animated series The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show, where he was dating his neighbor Pebbles Flintstone, formed a rock band, got a job, etc. The two would eventually get married and start a family. It’s unthinkable that a Bamm-Bamm movie wouldn’t also have Pebbles, Fred, Wilma, Barney, Betty, and maybe even Dino.
At this point, Gosling and his Open Invite producing partner Jessie Henderson are seeking a screenwriter and director. There’s no indication that Gosling will lead the film, but that’s obviously an option to be considered.
Whether Gosling stars could depend on the continued negotiations he and the Barbie team of Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, and Noah Baumbach- are having with WB about a sequel. Those talks need to conclude soon; otherwise, the rights revert back to Mattel.
The Flintstones’ futuristic counterparts, The Jetsons, are also getting a live-action movie starring Jim Carrey. It’s a pretty big moment for the Hanna-Barbera brand, and I’m only wondering when someone will finally bring Laff-A-Lympics to the screen.
