Netflix Secures Rights for New “Sesame Street” Movie, With Rideback Producing

Netflix has acquired the movie rights for “Sesame Street” in a deal that will see the streaming company produce a feature film based on the long-running children’s franchise, The Hollywood Reporter reported June 20, 2026. The report says Rideback Media, which produced Netflix’s live-action “Lilo & Stitch” and Disney’s 2019 live-action “Aladdin,” brought the project to Netflix and will serve as the film producer.

Rideback Media is described in the report as the production company behind “Lilo & Stitch” and “Aladdin,” two widely distributed live-action adaptations. Netflix did not disclose, in the reporting summarized by The Hollywood Reporter, additional production details such as a release window, production schedule, or creative team attached to the “Sesame Street” project.

The deal centers on the rights for a “Sesame Street” movie rather than a specific episode or special. “Sesame Street” is a long-established educational brand with decades of public-facing programming, and film adaptations typically require coordination among rights holders for characters, formats, and the franchise’s visual identity.

In this case, Netflix’s role as the rights-holder and producer would place the project within the streaming platform’s development pipeline. The Hollywood Reporter’s report frames Rideback as a key intermediary in getting the project to Netflix and indicates Rideback will produce once development moves forward.

For families and educators, film adaptations of “Sesame Street” can affect how young audiences encounter the characters, songs, and teaching concepts outside the daily TV format. A movie also generally changes the production and marketing timeline compared with episodic programming, with new decisions about audience reach, distribution scope, and age-appropriate presentation.

Neither the reporting nor any additional sources cited in the available material detail whether the film will rely on original story elements, which “Sesame Street” characters will appear, or whether any specific partnerships are planned. The next confirmed steps, based on the information provided, are development-related, including finalizing creative personnel and production logistics after the rights acquisition.

The deal also underscores the ongoing role of adaptation-focused production companies in expanding established children’s franchises into feature film and streaming formats, a path that has become more common as studios and streamers seek recognizable IP with established audience familiarity. Until Netflix and the production team release further details, key aspects of the project remain to be announced.