‘Peanuts’ creator Charles Schulz’s son: ‘My dad always said Snoopy could take over’

The Peanuts gang is again with a brand new particular specializing in Marcie, in any other case referred to as tomboyish Peppermint Patty’s quiet sidekick.

“Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Type Marcie,” premiering Aug. 18 on AppleTV+, a 40-minute animated particular, trains the highlight, for the primary time, straight on Marcie (Arianna McDonald), who famously refers to Peppermint Patty (Lexi Perry) as “sir.”

“We appreciated the concept of exploring totally different characters,” government producer Craig Schulz, 70, the son of the late Peanuts creator Charles M. Schultz, instructed The Submit. 

“We thought the fan base would need to know extra about them. Marcie got here up, and we thought ‘What can be the story for Marcie?’ I threw out the film, ‘Hidden Figures,’” he mentioned. “Marcie is a basic instance of a hidden determine. The film was about individuals past the Apollo program. In Marcie’s case, she’s the hidden determine behind the success of Peppermint Patty.

“Marcie has all kinds of nice attributes — she simply doesn’t need to be acknowledged for them, and desires to remain out of the highlight.” 

Marcie is seen within the particular aiding Peppermint Patty as her caddie throughout a golf championship. At college, Marcie unexpectedly will get nominated for sophistication president, and begins to assist with stopping site visitors jams within the hallways — and ensuring that everyone will get extra slices of pizza at lunch. 

As an introvert, nevertheless, she struggles with the brand new consideration … however ultimately figures out tips on how to be a pacesetter in her personal method. 

“We really feel we’ve locked the characters within the timeframe between the late Sixties and the Eighties,” Schulz mentioned. “And so we by no means allow them to get out of that universe, with cell telephones or iPads or any of that stuff.

“Apart from that, my goal has at all times been to honor my dad’s legacy,” he mentioned. “I think about myself the gatekeeper of the Peanuts universe, and my son [fellow producer Bryan Schulz] has adopted that path.” 

Though the particular is targeted on Marcie, Snoopy and Charlie Brown (Etienne Kellici) nonetheless make appearances. 

“Snoopy is nice comedian reduction,” director Raymond Persi instructed The Submit. 

“So should you discover the  proper stability of once you sprinkle him in, it helps maintain issues from getting too melodramatic. You carry the levity at simply the best time. And one of many issues about Charlie Brown is that he’s sort of this ethical compass for lots of those characters. Marcie turns to him for recommendation and ideas.” 

“My dad at all times mentioned that Snoopy might take over the cartoon,” mentioned Schulz. 

“That was at the back of our minds — all people loves Snoopy, and desires to see Snoopy. So the secret is, how do you stability it? We felt that every of those tales have a selected message to inform, and one thing you’ll be able to be taught from watching them along with your kids. We didn’t need Snoopy to spoil that messaging. So it was a matter of how do you stability the humor of Snoopy with the messages we need to convey?

“There have been numerous discussions of tips on how to reign in Snoopy.”

Schulz mentioned that there are extra Peanuts specials coming down the pike that may deal with numerous different characters. 

“We’ve already provide you with tales … we’ve got a narrative for Pigpen, a narrative for Schroeder, a narrative for Sally,” mentioned Schulz. 

“Whether or not these tales will hit the TV set, we don’t know. Franklin is popping out subsequent 12 months [and] it’s an incredible story. You’ll see that in 2024.”