Full Breakdown
Warner Bros. Partners with AGBO on a New “Free Willy” Reimagining
7/10/2026, 5:59:51 PM
Core Development Details
Warner Bros. Pictures has officially entered development on a reimagining of the 1993 family adventure film “Free Willy.” The project is being produced in partnership with the Russo brothers’ production company AGBO. Screenwriters Mary-Margaret Kunze and Jade Halley Bartlett have been tapped to draft the new screenplay. Production duties are assigned to Angela Russo-Otstot, Michael Disco, and Kassee Whiting for AGBO, with Lauren Shuler Donner and Courtney Baker serving as co-producers. The Russo brothers, Anthony and Joe, are listed as executive producers alongside Shuler Donner. Warner Bros. executives Jesse Ehrman and Cate Adams are overseeing the development on behalf of the studio. No director, cast members, or release timetable have been announced, and the studio has kept plot details under wraps.
Franchise Background & Cultural Impact
The original “Free Willy” debuted in 1993, portraying an orphaned boy named Jesse who befriends a captive orca named Keiko and seeks to free the whale. The film earned $153.7 million worldwide against a $20 million budget, becoming a global phenomenon. Its soundtrack featured Michael Jackson’s “Will You Be There,” which reached the top-10 of the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum. The movie’s success spawned two theatrical sequels (1995, 1997), an animated series (1994-1995), and a direct-to-video reboot (2010). It also shifted public attitudes toward orcas in captivity and spurred activism that eventually contributed to Keiko’s release from captivity.
Creative Team Profiles
Mary-Margaret Kunze began her career as a creative executive at Marvel Television, contributing to series such as *Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.* and *Daredevil*. She later served as a non-writing co-executive producer on Netflix’s *The Boroughs* (2026) and held producing roles on *A House on the Bayou* and *The Thing About Pam* (both 2021). Kunze is represented by CAA and Heroes & Villains Entertainment.
Jade Halley Bartlett, a Memphis-born writer, director, and producer, earned a spot on the Black List in 2016 for *Miller’s Girl* and again in 2017 for *Mad*. She wrote and directed *Miller’s Girl* (2024) for Lionsgate and created the Netflix series *Icebreaker*, adapted from Hannah Grace’s novel. Bartlett is represented by UTA and Heroes & Villains Entertainment. The two writers operate as creative partners under the Biscuit Belly Productions banner.
Production Oversight and Studio Involvement
AGBO’s producing team—Angela Russo-Otstot, Michael Disco, and Kassee Whiting—will manage day-to-day development, while the Russo brothers provide executive oversight. Lauren Shuler Donner, who produced the original 1993 film, returns as a co-producer, linking the new effort to its origins. Warner Bros. executives Jesse Ehrman and Cate Adams are tasked with studio supervision, ensuring alignment with the company’s broader franchise strategy.
Outstanding Questions and Information Gaps
Despite multiple announcements, the project’s creative direction remains undefined. No director has been named, and casting decisions have not been disclosed. The absence of a projected production schedule or release window leaves the timeline uncertain. Additionally, while the original film’s environmental legacy is well documented, sources do not indicate whether the new version will explicitly address contemporary marine-conservation themes. These gaps suggest that the reimagining is still in early script development, with further details likely to emerge as the project progresses.
