Spin Master Entertainment has entrusted Brad Peyton with the formidable task of penning, directing, and producing a live-action film adaptation of the beloved Bakugan toy line, which was previously transformed into an exhilarating anime adventure TV series. Peyton, alongside Lindsay Harbert, will forge ahead with a screenplay that draws inspiration from the global franchise, anchored around a Japanese anime show and a strategic game featuring metal cards and magnetically spring-loaded miniature figures that morph from marble-like spheres into toy monsters.
Peyton's impressive resume boasts directing and producing credits for Atlas, a Netflix hit starring Jennifer Lopez and Simu Liu, as well as helming Rampage, the Dwayne Johnson-led blockbuster that amassed $428 million worldwide. He also directed San Andreas, another Johnson-starrer that raked in $475 million globally. In the television realm, Peyton co-created the Netflix series Daybreak and directed Frontier, starring Jason Momoa, also for Netflix.
"Bakugan is ripe for the cinematic treatment, and I'm absolutely thrilled to be the one bringing it to the big screen for the maiden voyage," Peyton enthusiastically stated on Thursday. "With Lindsay and the Spin Master team by my side, we're eager to establish a hit franchise with universal appeal. I am confident that we will craft a must-see cinematic event that does justice to the one-of-a-kind and epic world of Bakugan."
First introduced in 2007, Bakugan soared to success as a toy line and anime adventure series, spinning off into digital content and a popular card game. Spin Master also co-produced approximately 300 Bakugan TV episodes, with the franchise's toy line generating over $1 billion in sales worldwide to date.
"As fans who were once enthralled by Bakugan's initial craze now embrace adulthood, we're delighted to collaborate with a seasoned filmmaker like Brad to reimagine Bakugan in live action," said Jennifer Dodge, President of Spin Master, in a statement. "This endeavor will expand the franchise for loyal fans while introducing it to new audiences worldwide."
Spin Master's movie slate already includes the upcoming third film in the Paw Patrol franchise, set for release by Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies in 2026. Peyton is represented by CAA and The Characters talent agency.
