Roll over Scoobs, there's a new dog in town: Clifford the Big Red Dog is coming to the big screen.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal is teaming up with Illumination Entertainment, the company who brought you the recent box-office marvel "Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax," to develop the project.

Matt Lopez ("The Sorcerer’s Apprentice") is set to pen the script, which follows the 25-foot pup and his companion, a girl named Emily Elizabeth. The film will follow the story of Clifford, as well as Emily's exceptional love that made him grow far beyond the size of a normal dog. (In order to accomodate this, the family had to move out of their city home and into a Clifford-friendly island town.) The film is said to be a live-action/animation hybrid.

"Clifford the Big Red Dog" first appeared on bookshelves in 1963, created by author and illustrator Norman Bridwell. (Which means dear old Clifford is turning 50 next year!) The success of the series spawned a popular PBS program in 2000, which was voiced by the late actor John Ritter.

[via THR]

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