Sony Pictures Develops Live-Action Astro Boy Film with Ghostbusters Creators

Melina GraySat, February 28, 2026 at 3:03 AM UTC

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((Photo by Wang Gang/Visual China Group via Getty Images))

Sony Pictures is setting the stage for a live-action adaptation of the 1950s Japanese mangaAstro Boy. The studio has tapped the creative duo behind the modern Ghostbusters franchise, Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan, who are reportedly developing the project.

Building a High-Tech Pinocchio

The live-action Astro Boy film is currently in early development. While Reitman and Kenan are guiding the creative vision behind the scenes, Sony has not officially attached Reitman to direct the feature. Industry insiders report that he could ultimately take the helm if the script aligns with the studio's expectations.

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Currently, Sony is actively searching for screenwriters to adapt Osamu Tezuka’s 1952 creation. The goal is to produce a four-quadrant family film. The studio envisions the movie as a robotic spin on the classic Pinocchio story, centered on an android endowed with human emotions who was designed to replace a grieving scientist's deceased son.

Expanding a Legacy Roster

This adaptation marks another major legacy property for Reitman and Kenan. The pair successfully revitalized the Ghostbusters universe, with Reitman directing 2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Kenan taking over for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. They also co-wrote both films and are developing animated projects for Netflix.

Astro Boy has seen numerous adaptations over the decades. The most notable include a 1980 anime series and a 2009 CGI-animated film from Imagi Animation Studios and Summit Entertainment. In the original manga story, Astro is sold to a robot circus before being saved by a professor who acts as a father figure and builds him a robotic family. A major live-action theatrical release has remained elusive. If the duo can capture the core of the boy-like android, this could be the definitive adaptation audiences have waited for.

With the project still in its early stages, fans will have to wait for an official production timeline. As Sony continues its search for a writer, the involvement of Reitman and Kenan signals a serious commitment to bringing the 1952 manga back to the big screen.

This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”