Your childhood comfort show is making a comeback… will this be a money grab or super fab?
Hasbro’s beloved franchise ‘My Little Pony’ has confirmed a live action film in the works. Is this a desperate attempt to revive a slowly dying fandom? At 41 years old, the franchise has been a huge success for Hasbro, raking in over one billion dollars annually in 2014 and 2015. The fandom consists of a wide variety of people, ranging from adult fans to little kids. The question is, what does a live action mean for Hasbro? Will they win over support from loyal bronies and pegasisters, or will they end up in the dumps like the Minecraft movie?
MLP is an extremely successful franchise, with five recognizable generations, starting at G1 in the 1980s featuring ‘My Pretty Pony’, and ending at G5 with the ‘My little Pony: Make Your Mark’ series. Throughout the years the fandom has grown, particularly in the G4 ‘Friendship is Magic’ era. Merch of your favorite ponies was sold in stores worldwide, along with tons of toys out performing competitors like Mattel with their merchandise and toy lines. The rise of the ‘bronies’ in G4 was a great benefit for MLP, with 10,215 people attending the famous ‘Bronycon’ in 2019, the world’s biggest MLP annual convention for fans of all ages.
However, since the rise of G5, the show’s popularity and fandom has diminished significantly. In fact, G5 is often harshly criticized by fans, loathing the new animation style, and focus of the show. When I asked MLP fan and fellow student Grace Luby, she expressed her distaste for the newest generation. “I think it ruins the reputation of MLP,” she states. “They definitely mischaracterized many of the characters, and I prefer the G4 animation.” This leads to the burning question: is a live action Hasbro’s anguished attempt to regain their past popularity? Live actions are very big in recent days, a popular strategy to attract new and nostalgic audiences, and remain relevant with a modern flair. Though live actions are not always perceived positively by audiences, their success in revenue and popularity confirm it to be an ever growing trend.
One example of a recent live action movie is the ‘Minecraft movie’, launched by the significant Warner Bros. Pictures and Mojang Studios on April 4, 2025. The film received very mixed reviews from audiences, some claiming it to be ‘cringe’ and ‘stupid’, while others praise it for being ‘goofy’ and visually appealing. “I don’t think [the MLP live action] will be like the Minecraft movie, because I don’t think it would get as much hype,” Grace says. When I asked freshman Andrew Roberts his thoughts on the movie, he had a more positive outlook. “It was pretty funny,” he says. “I initially thought it wouldn’t live up to the game… but I was excited to see it with friends.” No matter what the viewers have to say, the Minecraft movie was a huge financial success, drawing hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide, and being coined one of the highest-grossing films of 2025. Not only was this movie great for the bank account, but the live action brought together a passionate fanbase in theaters, and made a beloved brand name relevant again.
Based on the history of live actions and the recent success of the Minecraft movie, Hasbro’s intentions are clear: reel in a new younger audience, while resonating with nostalgic, older fans. The ultimate goal is to make MLP relevant again (oh, and make money). But a few questions still linger in the air. First of all, let’s address the elephant in the room: how? How do you make a live action of colorful, talking ponies? Oh, and some of them fly. Or have magical horns. MLP is known for its cute and colorful animation, it’s what makes the show what it is. To make a live action is a huge step out of their comfort zone, and very… confusing. Some could even speculate and ask if Hasbro would make more money simply making another animated film (which pretty much guarantees revenue). Grace admits, “I probably wouldn’t watch the live action unless I wanted a laugh.” Will this be a turning point for Hasbro? Are they just beating a dead pony?
