Netflix Secures Rights for Upcoming 'Sesame Street' Film
WHO:
The Hollywood Reporter - Netflix, Sesame Workshop, Rideback, Jonathan Eirich, Michael Lofaso, Universal, Warner Bros., The Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, Emma Stone, Charles Melton.
WHAT:
The Hollywood Reporter - Netflix's acquisition of the movie rights to Sesame Street follows a year-long bidding contest involving Netflix, Universal, and Warner Bros.
The Hollywood Reporter - Universal was a strong contender in the bidding war, with The Daniels attached to produce.
The Hollywood Reporter - Warner Bros. had the feature rights for about a decade but was unable to produce a Sesame Street movie and bowed out early in the bidding process.
The Hollywood Reporter - Netflix has secured the feature film rights to Sesame Street.
The Hollywood Reporter - Rideback will produce the feature film.
Gizmodo - The Sesame Street movie has not yet landed a writer.
The Hollywood Reporter - Sesame Street has generated two previous big-screen adaptations: 1985’s Follow That Bird and 1999’s The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland.
WHERE:
The Hollywood Reporter - The production company Rideback is involved in the project.
WHEN:
The Hollywood Reporter - Netflix acquired the television rights to Sesame Street in May 2025.
Gizmodo - The initial idea for a Sesame Street movie was pitched to Warner Bros. in 2015.
WHY:
The Hollywood Reporter - The acquisition of the movie rights follows a year-long bidding contest involving Netflix, Universal, and Warner Bros.
The Hollywood Reporter - Sesame Workshop approved of Rideback’s approach to the material.
HOW:
The Hollywood Reporter - Netflix's victory in the bidding war was aided by Sesame Workshop's approval of Rideback’s approach to the material.
The Hollywood Reporter - Netflix won the bidding war against Universal and Warner Bros. for the movie rights.
The Hollywood Reporter - Warner Bros. had the feature rights for about a decade but was unable to produce a Sesame Street movie.
(UPDATED June 22, 2026 08:49 UTC)
Netflix has successfully acquired the movie rights to Sesame Street after a competitive year-long bidding war that included strong contenders like Universal and Warner Bros. Universal, which had The Daniels attached to produce, was a notable participant, while Warner Bros. had held the feature rights for about a decade but ultimately stepped back from the contest. Netflix's win was bolstered by Sesame Workshop's endorsement of Rideback’s vision for the project.
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(UPDATED June 22, 2026 03:32 UTC)
Netflix has secured the feature film rights to Sesame Street, winning a competitive bidding war against Universal and Warner Bros. Rideback will produce the film, although a writer has not yet been attached to the project. This new adaptation follows two previous big-screen versions, including 1985’s Follow That Bird and 1999’s The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland.