Warner Bros. Pictures is moving forward with a fresh take on the beloved 1993 family adventure Free Willy, with Anthony and Joe Russo’s production company AGBO attached to produce. The project is being described as a reimagining aimed at introducing the heartwarming tale of friendship between a young boy and an orca to a new generation of audiences.
Mary-Margaret Kunze and Jade Halley Bartlett have been tapped to write the screenplay. Kunze brings experience from Marvel’s television universe, having contributed to series such as Daredevil and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., while Bartlett’s credits include various screenwriting projects. Details on the plot remain under wraps, but the new version is expected to retain the core emotional resonance of the original while updating it for contemporary viewers.
On the producing side, AGBO’s Angela Russo-Otstot, Michael Disco, and Kassee Whiting will oversee the film, with Anthony and Joe Russo serving as executive producers alongside Lauren Shuler Donner, who has been involved with the Free Willy franchise since its inception.
The original Free Willy, directed by Simon Wincer and starring Jason James Richter as the troubled youth Jesse alongside the orca Keiko, became a surprise hit in the summer of 1993. The film grossed over $153 million worldwide on a modest budget and left a lasting cultural impact, not only through its memorable “jump” finale but also by raising public awareness about marine mammal conservation and the ethics of keeping orcas in captivity. Two sequels followed in 1995 and 1997, though the franchise has remained dormant on the big screen for nearly three decades.
The Russo brothers, best known for helming blockbuster Marvel Cinematic Universe entries Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, have increasingly expanded their AGBO banner into a wide range of genres. This Free Willy project represents a notable pivot toward family-friendly adventure territory following their high-profile superhero work.
No cast, director, or release date have been announced yet. As development progresses, fans of the original will be eager to see how the story of one boy’s determination to free a captive whale is refreshed for today’s audiences—potentially with heightened emphasis on environmental themes that feel even more urgent in 2026.
