Iconic ’90s computer game and cartoon character Carmen Sandiego has been lost to the world for years now. But after years of remaining hidden in cartoon limbo, Carmen is apparently back and this time in the form of Jennifer Lopez. According to reports, Lopez is being pegged to star in a live-action film of Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?
Walden Media has acquired the rights to the franchise and Lopez has come on board to produce the film with her Nuyorican Productions’ partners Benny Medina and Simon Fields. Though Lopez’s role is solely behind-the scenes- for now, Walden Media is apparently developing the film with Lopez in mind to star in the film about an elusive detective turned world and time-traveling thief. For those who didn’t grow up as 80s and 90s kids or were at least hip adults of the era, the franchise originated as an educational computer game in 1985 before spawning three television shows, including two game shows “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” (1991-1995) and “Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?” (1996-1998), as well as the cartoon, “Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?” (1994-1999).
Walden Media is hoping to turn the film into a successful mix of treasure-hunting blockbuster’s National Treasure and The Thomas Crown Affair and is promoting the film with the logline, “When the ACME agency’s greatest detective Carmen Sandiego becomes the world’s greatest thief, it’s up to her former partner to follow her clues and track her down. Their cat-and-mouse game leads the partner to confront a greater mystery: Is Carmen really a thief or a hero?”
This isn’t the first time filmmakers have tried to bring Carmen Sandiego to the big screen. In the late 90s, Disney optiond a film version of the franchise and developed it for actress Sandra Bullock to star in. However, the film never quite got off the ground.
But with Lopez attached to this new version, perhaps, this time around, the film will finally see the light of day. What do you think of Lopez starring as Carmen Sandiego? –nicholas robinson
