Summary

• A new live-action Popeye movie is in the works almost 50 years after the first adaptation attempted in 1980.
• Casting details and timeline for the upcoming movie are still undisclosed.
• Production company Chernin Entertainment is behind the latest Popeye adaptation project.

More than four decades after the first attempt, a new live-action adaptation of Popeye the Sailor Man is on the way, but few details are available. Created by illustrator Elzie Crisler Segar in 1929, Popeye became an instant hit in the King Features comic strips, and quickly blossomed into a pop culture icon akin to the likes of Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse. The typical Popeye adventure involves the musclebound sailor powering up thanks to his high-spinach diet, and fighting off various villains that threaten his family.

Popeye became the subject of Max Fleisher cartoons in the 1930s and would continue until the 1960s. He branched out into nearly every form of media across the decades from comic books, toys, and games, but it was the 1980 film, Popeye, that gave him his first feature-length adventure. The Robin Williams-led Popeye movie was a rare live-action Disney flop, and no plans were made to adapt the beloved character in such a way since. Now, a new attempt is being made to bring E.C. Segar's beloved creation to life in a live-action Popeye the Sailor Man movie.

The Live-Action Popeye The Sailor Man Is Confirmed

A New Popeye Movie Is In The Works

In a surprise announcement, it was revealed that a live-action Popeye the Sailor Man movie was in the works nearly 50 years after the first attempt in 1980. The reported big-budget adaptation is being produced by Chernin Entertainment in conjunction with King Features, the licensing and distribution company behind the original Popeye comic strips going back to the 1920s.

No timeline has been provided for the film, and it is unclear how far along in the process the new Popeye movie is, or when the film is planned to be released. Despite abundant fan casting of the character as of late, no cast members have been revealed, and it can be assumed that the role of Popeye hasn't been cast yet. At this juncture, no studio is attached to the project on the distribution end, and the only name linked to the movie is screenwriter Michael Caleo, who will be penning the script.

Who Is Making The Live-Action Popeye Movie?

No Big Studio Is Attached Yet

Though somewhat new to the game, the production company Chernin Entertainment is responsible for the latest adaptation, and they have an impressive roster of films to their credit. Presenting a wide range of movies, Chernin co-produced mega-hits like the Planet of the Apes trilogy across the 2010s, and smaller films like 2014's St. Vincent. However, it is their experience with big-budget blockbusters that makes them uniquely suited for Popeye the Sailor Man.

Other upcoming Chernin Entertainment projects include:

Chernin Entertainment is working with King Features Syndicate, the company that has owned the Popeye character since he first appeared in their syndicated comic strips in 1929. Screenwriter Michael Caleo will pen the script, and Popeye the Sailor Man represents the industry veteran's first big foray into feature films. Caleo's is largely known for his TV work and has written various episodes of shows like The Sopranos, Rescue Me, and Ironside, while being the primary creative force behind the 2024 series Sexy Beast on Paramount+.

The Popeye The Sailor Man Franchise Explained

From Comic Strips To The Big Screen

Debuting in King Features Syndicate comic strips in 1929, Popeye was quickly adapted into a cartoon series in the early 1930 by Max Fleisher. These shorts usually played before movies in theaters, and it was where Popeye became one of the most iconic cartoon voices of all time. Largely unchanged in the nearly 100 years since his debut, Popeye continued to delight fans in syndication as his cartoons were repurposed on TV and replayed together.

Stream 1980's Popeye on Hoopla, Kanopy, and Pluto TV.

Released in 1980, director Robert Altman made a unique career move and directed a live-action adaptation of Popeye starring Robin Williams in the title role, with Shelley Duvall perfectly cast as his love interest, Olive Oyl. The ambitious movie was Williams' first starring role on the big screen and the movie received negative critical attention. Though Popeye the Sailor Man has never faded in the decades since, the seafaring spinach eater wasn't part of the rise in live-action cartoon movies that swept the 2000s and early 2010s.