Moonbug’s Dan’l Hewitt pitches advertisers at Cannes Lions and says a ‘CoComelon’ film is headed to theaters

Moonbug is using the Cannes Lions advertising festival to make a case to major brands that advertisers should increase spending in the family content segment, according to a report published June 30 by The Hollywood Reporter.

Dan’l Hewitt, a founding partner and Moonbug’s global head of business and partnerships, was at the Cannes Lions event to advocate for the spending shift, the report says. The pitch was tied to Moonbug’s broader effort to grow its audience beyond streaming and into additional viewing formats.

Hewitt’s remarks also connected to Moonbug’s plans to debut a “CoComelon” movie on the big screen. The report frames the move as part of the company’s attempt to reach advertisers and brand partners in a setting designed for mass family viewing.

Cannes Lions, which is widely attended by advertising executives, marks an unusual stage for a children’s media brand to sharpen its commercial message. In the report, the emphasis is on how family entertainment can be positioned as an advertising category that meets brand-safety and audience-consistency expectations.

The Hollywood Reporter story does not specify the film’s release date, distributor, or production details. It also does not provide figures for Moonbug’s existing advertising relationships, the size of any new ad deals under negotiation, or expected theater market scope.

For now, Moonbug’s immediate next step appears to be continuing to court brand partners while aligning its “CoComelon” theatrical push with advertiser priorities discussed in Cannes. Additional announcements, such as distribution, timing, and partnership terms, would be needed to clarify the scale of the theater debut and how advertisers would participate.