Quick summary
- An animated film called I Eat Poop, produced by Ryan Reynolds‘ company Maximum Effort, is reportedly no longer in development.
- The report comes from The Wrap’s Drew Taylor, as relayed by ComingSoon.net on 5 November 2026.
- The setback is linked to Skydance’s acquisitions of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.
- Maximum Effort still has Animal Friends, Eloise and the Spy School series in the works.
Ryan Reynolds I Eat Poop film loses its place at Paramount
A planned animated comedy from Ryan Reynolds’ production banner has been shelved. According to ComingSoon.net, which cites a report by The Wrap’s Drew Taylor, I Eat Poop is no longer in development following Skydance’s acquisitions of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.
The film was being developed by Paramount Animation, with Maximum Effort producing. Neither company’s own statement was included in the coverage we reviewed, so the details come second-hand from the trade report.
What the film was meant to be
I Eat Poop was based on I Eat Poop: A Dung Beetle Story, a children’s picture book written and illustrated by Mark Pett. Oscar-winning filmmaker Josh Cooley was attached to direct. ComingSoon.net notes his credits include Toy Story 4 and Transformers One.
The report does not say whether Reynolds was set to appear on screen or voice a character. It describes him only as a producer through Maximum Effort, so any suggestion of a starring role would be guesswork.
What Maximum Effort still has in the pipeline
The loss is one project among several. ComingSoon.net lists three others that remain active:
- Animal Friends, a live-action and animated adventure comedy with Reynolds, Jason Momoa, Aubrey Plaza, Daniel Levy, Vince Vaughn and Addison Rae. It is due in cinemas on 22 January 2027.
- Eloise, a fantasy adventure film based on the book series by Kay Thompson and illustrator Hilary Knight. Mae Schenk, Sally Hawkins and Victor Garber are among the cast, and Reynolds will also appear.
- Spy School, a Disney+ series based on Stuart Gibbs‘ novels, which Maximum Effort is producing under its first-look deal with 20th Television. It follows Ben Ripley, a would-be spy who discovers his science-focused magnet school is a front for a CIA academy.
The company’s earlier titles with Reynolds include Deadpool 2, Free Guy, The Adam Project, Mayday, Spirited and Deadpool & Wolverine. It also backed the 2022 comedy Shotgun Wedding with Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel.
For more on that slate, see our earlier story on Mayday entering the Emmy race and the report that Reynolds is rumoured to be writing an Alpha Flight film. Everything we publish on him is in the Ryan Reynolds tag archive, and film coverage sits in our Movies section.
What happens next
No replacement studio or revival has been reported. Whether Maximum Effort tries to take the project elsewhere is unknown. The nearest date to watch is the release of Animal Friends on 22 January 2027, which will be the first test of the company’s slate after the merger news.
Frequently asked questions
Is I Eat Poop officially cancelled?
It is reported as no longer in development, according to The Wrap via ComingSoon.net. We have not seen a statement from Paramount or Maximum Effort.
Who was going to direct I Eat Poop?
Josh Cooley, whose credits include Toy Story 4 and Transformers One, was attached to direct.
Is I Eat Poop based on a book?
Yes. It was adapted from I Eat Poop: A Dung Beetle Story, a children’s book by Mark Pett.
When is Animal Friends released?
Animal Friends is scheduled to reach cinemas on 22 January 2027.
