Harold and the Purple Crayon Movie: Everything We Know So Far

The beloved children's book series Harold and the Purple Crayon will be soon hitting the big screen, as it is decided that the children's book series will be adapted into a film. 

The film had a challenging route to completion and was released approximately 70 years after the original novel. Initial planning started in 1992, but behind-the-scenes concerns caused it to be shelved by 1994. A new CGI movie was reportedly in production by 2010. However, that news has since faded, and there have been no updates for a while.

It was early 2021 when a final announcement was made that a live-action movie will be made and in 2022 the shooting for the movie began.

Let's get into what the movie brings with it and who is in it.

What is the movie about?

Harold, a bald young boy with a love of drawing, fears that the birth of a new baby brother will ruin his life. With his magic purple crayon, he retreats into a fantasy world in which a monster abducts his baby brother. When real-life complications occur during the pregnancy, it’s up to Harold to right his wrongs.

Most of the plot keeps the essence of the book alive but still, the details are kept under wraps. Notably, the plot of the dormant CGI film would have followed Harold as he realizes that he has been selfish with his crayon. He then uses it to help his parents, family, and friends with their needs.

Who stars in Harold and the Purple Crayon: Cast List

The cast is all star-studded and is raising expectations for the movie. Shazam! star Zachary Levi is set to play a lead role, though it is unlikely that this role will be the titular Harold. In addition to Levi, the film is also set to feature names such as New Girl’s Zooey Deschanel and actor and comic Lil Rel Howery. Other cast members include actors Ravi Patel and Camille Guaty, Sex Education star Tanya Reynolds, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s Pete Gardner.

The Harold and the Purple Crayon Release date:

Harold and the Purple Crayon is set to hit theatres on August 2nd, 2024. Harold and the Purple Crayon has already been adapted for several other media, even though it has only been 68 years since the novel was turned into a motion picture.13 episodes of an animated TV show of the same name aired on HBO between 2001 and 2002. Each episode featured Harold utilizing his purple crayon to discover a new world and gain valuable life lessons. 

A 1959 animated short film adaptation of the first book in the series lasted seven minutes. In 1971 and 1974, animated shorts based on subsequent volumes were released. Over the years, the series has also been stage-adapted. A new Broadway adaptation of Harold and the Purple Crayon, with original music by the band AJR, is currently under development as of March 2022. The main character, Harold, will be an adult who must deal with challenges in the real world without the assistance of his crayon. It’s not yet apparent if or how the musical’s plot will relate to the new movie.

This article was reviewed and is up to date as of September 1st, 2023.