Clifford the Big Red Dog is a 2021 American adventure fantasy comedy film directed by Walt Becker. It is based on the children's book series of the same name by Norman Bridwell. The film stars Jack Whitehall, Darby Camp, Tony Hale, Sienna Guillory, Russell Wong, and John Cleese, with David Alan Grier providing the vocal effects for the title character.
The film was screened unannounced on August 26, 2021, during the 2021 CinemaCon event in Los Angeles. It was initially scheduled to premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival in September 2021, to be followed by a theatrical release in the United States on September 17 after being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic by Paramount Pictures, but was ultimately pulled from the festival and had its release date removed from Paramount's schedule due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. The film will now be simultaneously released theatrically and digitally on Paramount+ on November 10, 2021, in the United States.
Premise[]
As middle schooler Emily-Elizabeth struggles to fit in at home and at school, she discovers a small red puppy who is destined to become her best friend from a magical animal rescuer. When Clifford becomes a gigantic red dog in her New York City apartment and attracts the attention of a genetics company who wish to supersize animals, Emily and her clueless Uncle Casey have to fight the forces of greed as they go on the run across New York City and take a bite out of the Big Apple. Along the way, Clifford affects the lives of everyone around him and teaches Emily and her uncle the true meaning of acceptance and unconditional love. Based on the beloved Scholastic character, Clifford will teach the world how to love big.
Cast[]
- David Alan Grier as the vocal effects for Clifford, a red dog who is at first the runt of his litter until he grows up to be a giant.
- Darby Camp as Emily-Elizabeth Howard, a 12-year-old girl who has to save Clifford from a genetics company.
- Jack Whitehall as Uncle Casey Howard, Emily's clumsy yet good-natured uncle and Maggie's younger brother.
- Izaac Wang as Owen Yu, the boy from the next-door apartment.
- John Cleese as Mr. Bridwell, the magical animal rescuer who gives Clifford to Emily. He is named after the creator of the Clifford character, Norman Bridwell.
- Russell Wong as Mr. Yu, Owen's dad.
- Paul Rodriguez as Sanchez, the bodega owner.
- Tony Hale as Peter Tieran, the owner of a genetics company that wants Clifford.
- Russell Peters as Malik
- Sienna Guillory as Maggie Howard, Emily-Elizabeth's mother and Casey's older sister who is on a business trip.
- Kenan Thompson as Clifford's veterinarian.
- Rosie Perez as Lucille
- Jessica Keenan Wynn as Colette
- Siobhan Fallon Hogan as Petra
- Bear Allen-Blaine as Mrs. Jarvis, Emily's faithful lawyer who helps her save Clifford from a genetics company.
Production[]
Development[]
In May 2012, it was reported that Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment would produce a live-action/animated film based on the book. Matt Lopez was hired to write the script while Chris Meledandri and Deborah Forte were to produce, but in July 2013, it was reported that Illumination cancelled the project. On September 13, 2013, it was reported that the film was still in development at Universal Pictures with David Bowers in talks to direct the film. Like the 2011 film Hop, the titular dog character will be animated while the other characters will be live-action.
In 2016, Paramount Pictures had purchased the rights to develop a live-action and animated hybrid film. On September 25, 2017, it was reported that Walt Becker had been hired to direct from a script being re-written by Ellen Rapoport, and from the original written by Justin Malen, which would be produced by Forte through her Silvertongue Films banner.
On June 20, 2019, Paramount closed a deal with Entertainment One to co-finance the film. Under the deal, Entertainment One Films would distribute the film in Canada and the United Kingdom excluding TV broadcast rights for the latter country, while Paramount would distribute in all other territories including the United States.
On December 25, 2019, a photo from the film was leaked, revealing the computer-generated form of Clifford in the live-action scenery.
Casting[]
In May 2019, Darby Camp and Jack Whitehall signed on to star in the film. In June 2019, John Cleese, Sienna Guillory, Izaac Wang, Kenan Thompson, Rosie Perez, David Alan Grier, Keith Ewell, Bear Allen-Blaine, and Lynn Cohen joined the cast.
Filming[]
Principal photography began on June 10, 2019, in New York City, and wrapped on August 23, 2019, after 55 days of shooting.
Music[]
On November 18, 2020, it was announced that John Debney would compose the film's score.
Release[]
Clifford the Big Red Dog will be simultaneously released in theaters in Dolby Cinema and streaming on Paramount+ on November 10, 2021, in the United States. It was initially scheduled to have its world premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival in September 2021, followed by a theatrical release on September 17 by Paramount Pictures, but the festival premiere was cancelled and the studio removed the film from its release schedule due to the rise of the Delta variant of COVID-19.
It was originally scheduled to be released November 13, 2020, before being delayed to November 5, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to that, Universal Pictures initially slated the then-unproduced film for April 8, 2016 and then pushed back to December 31, 2016.
The film had a surprise unannounced screening on August 26, 2021 during the 2021 CinemaCon event in Los Angeles.
Adaptations[]
Comic writer Georgia Ball and illustrator Chi Ngo adapted the film into a graphic novel entitled Clifford the Big Red Dog: The Movie Graphic Novel, which was originally scheduled to be published on August 23, 2021 but was pushed back to December 7, 2021, one month after the film's release.