With a spark of imagination, Disney is bringing the beloved purple dragon, Figment, to the big screen for a feature film adventure. The creative force behind the project includes Seth Rogen's production company, Point Grey Pictures, with a script penned by the duo Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit, known for their work on Pokémon Detective Pikachu.
The live-action film will see Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and James Weaver producing under the Point Grey Pictures banner, a company with a diverse portfolio that includes animated hits like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and live-action comedies. The choice of Hernandez and Samit as screenwriters suggests a potential blend of live-action and CGI, similar to their successful adaptation of the Pokémon universe.
Figment, a whimsical and imaginative purple dragon, has been a fan-favorite character since his debut in the "Journey into Imagination" attraction at Walt Disney World's Epcot in 1983. Created by Imagineers Tony Baxter and Steve Kirk, Figment has captured the hearts of park-goers for decades with his childlike curiosity and boundless creativity. The original attraction featured the endearing Dreamfinder, a cheerful collector of dreams and ideas, who creates Figment from a spark of imagination. While the attraction has undergone several changes over the years, Figment's popularity has endured, making him a cult icon among Disney enthusiasts.
Details regarding the film's plot and a potential release date remain under wraps, and a director has not yet been publicly announced. The development of a Figment movie signals Disney's continued interest in leveraging its rich library of theme park attractions for cinematic experiences, following in the footsteps of successful franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise.
Adding a layer of intrigue to Figment's future, Disney CEO Bob Iger recently acknowledged the character's passionate fanbase and mentioned the possibility of developing a series or short-form content for the imaginative dragon. This has led to speculation among fans about the feature film's status and whether Disney might be planning a multi-platform approach to reintroducing Figment to a wider audience. For now, fans can hold onto that "one little spark" of hope as the Figment movie continues its journey through development.