James R | On 08, Aug 2015

Netflix is rebooting Mr. Peabody and Sherman as a TV show – but possibly not the one you were expecting.

The animated movie, which is available to stream in the UK here, was praised in our review for never talking down to its audience, despite its central conceit being something as daft as an anthropomorphic dog (Mr. Peabody) adopting a 7-year-old boy (Sherman) and tutoring him by travelling through time using his WABAC machine.

Now, the smartest canine in the history of time-travelling mutts will return in a completely different format: a variety show. The series, which will premiere on Netflix on 9th October, will see the pair host a late-night comedy show from their penthouse in front of a studio audience – an idea inspired by the original shorts that featured the duo in Jay Ward’s Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, which saw them meet famous historical figures.

“Anything can happen in this show jam-packed with exciting segments, great musical acts and very special guests like outrageous neighbors and hilarious time travellers,” said Netflix in a statement. Variety highlights future guests as including Edgar Allan Poe and Mozart.

The series is the latest in DreamWorks Animations’ original shows for the VOD service, which tend to be spin-offs from its most successful franchises, from Madagascar to How to Train Your Dragon. It will be a 2D animated show to echo Ward’s original work.

“The love I have for Jay Ward and his creations, and his comedic tone, have been an inspiration for me ever since I was a kid,” commented Dave Smith, Exec Producer of the show and a director of Dexter’s Laboratory and The Powerpuff Girls.

“The New Mr. Peabody and Sherman Show is inspired by the original shorts and also weaves in elements from the film — they launch the TV variety show because at the end of the movie they’re outed as time travelers, so they decide to capitalize on that. We loved the straight-up lampooning of historical figures. We mixed it up a lot, while retaining the comedy of the Jay Ward show.”

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