Tropic Thunder scribe to adapt The Bad Guys book series into a feature film

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Etan Cohen, who co-wrote the screenplay for TROPIC THUNDER with Justin Theroux and Ben Stiller is teaming up with Dreamworks Animation to present an adaptation of THE BAD GUYS, based on the award-winning author Aaron Blabey's Scholastic’s best-selling illustrated chapter book series.

The story of THE BAD GUYS circles around four “bad guys” — Mr. Wolf, Mr. Shark, Mr. Snake, and Mr. Piranha — who, after growing tired of others screaming and running away from them, decide to become a force for good… despite their affinity for being bad.

Cohen, who recently wrote and directed HOLMES AND WATSON, a mystery adventure featuring the comedic duo Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, respectively. Also set to appear in the film are Ralph Fiennes as Holmes' nemesis, Moriarty, while Hugh Laurie will step into the role of Mycroft, Sherlock's nobel brother.

In the past, Cohen has contributed to such animation projects as KING OF THE HILL, AMERICAN DAD, and MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA. With THE BAD GUYS being hailed as a hilarious book series with plenty of larger-than-life set pieces, it should be interesting to see how Cohen spreads his animated wings for this one.