Amazon MGM Studios announced Friday that it is developing a live-action movie based on the 1992 animated "Ferngully: The Last Rainforest."

Marielle Heller, seen at the 2025 Writers Guild Awards in New York City, will direct a live-action "Ferngully." File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI UPI Marielle Heller, seen at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, will direct "Ferngully." File Photo by Chris Chew/UPI UPI Marielle Heller (L), seen with Anne Carey at the 2024 Chaplin Awards in New York City, is attached to direct "Ferngully." File Photo by Serena Xu Ning/UPI UPI

April 17 (UPI) -- Amazon MGM Studios announced Friday that it is developing a live-action film based on the animated Ferngully: The Last Rainforest. Marielle Heller will direct.

1992's Ferngully was about a logger shrunk down to the size of the magical fairies of the rainforest. He learned about the harms caused by deforestation.

It featured the voices of Samantha Mathis, Christian Slater, Robin Williams, Tim Curry, Jonathan Ward and more. Elton John, Raffi, Thomas Dolby and Jimmy Buffett

wrote original songs for it with John, Sheena Easton, Ton Loc and cast members performing.

Bill Kroyer, director of the animated film, spoke with UPI for the film's 30th anniversary, and said the film's environmental message was "more critical than it has ever been." He also laughed about comparisons to Avatar, with that film's hero transforming into a Na'Vi in the forest of Pandora.

Amazon MGM has partnered with Machine Advisors LLC on Ferngully. Machine Advisors is planning music, merchandising, gaming and other merchandising opportunities for Ferngully.

Heller, Stacey Sher, Susan Ursitti-Sheinberg, Jon Sheinberg, Matt Feige and Leah Holzer produce. Moonli Singha executive produces.