Get ready to see another remake of a children’s classic. MGM has optioned Robert C. O’Brien’s classic ‘Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of NIMH’ in hopes of developing a new family franchise.

The novel ‘Mrs. Frisby & The Rats of NIMH’ was first published in 1971. The story is about a widowed field mouse named Mrs. Frisby who seeks the help of highly intelligent rats when her son becomes sick and loses her home.

United Artists adapted the book into a movie in 1982 called ‘The Secret of NIMH.’ (Interesting fact, the name Mrs. Frisby was changed to Mrs. Brisby over trademark issues with Frisbees.)

It was recently announced that Daniel Bobker and Ehren Kruger of Bobker/Kruger will produce with Michael Berg (‘Ice Age’) set to write the screenplay.

‘Mrs. Frisby & The Rats of NIMH’ has two sequels, ‘Rasco and the Rats of NIMH’ and ‘R-T Margaret and the Rats of NIMH’ penned by O’Brien’s daughter, Jane Leslie Conly.

Paramount had previously attempted to turn these books into a franchise. A sequel to the movie ‘The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue’ was a direct-to-video release in 1998. It was not based on ‘Rasco and the Rats of NIMH’ and did not fare well with fans of the first movie.

‘The Secret of NIMH’ did sort of disturb me as a kid. After all, it was the first time I ever heard an animated character say “damn.” That being said, I’m curious to see if this re-imagining would be closer to the book. Either way, I’m definitely going to miss Dom DeLuise as the voice of Jeremy.

Do you think ‘Mrs. Frisby & The Rats of NIMH’ could be a successful franchise?

Source: Deadline