Charlie Brown had been writing letters to a friend for decades without anyone knowing who was on the other end. The wait is over: her name is Mia, she is a London girl of South Asian descent and she uses a wheelchair.
She comes to Snoopy Unleashed, the new animated movie that Apple TV will premiere in 2027. In the story, Mia helps Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang understand the true meaning of friendship.
What is the film about?
The plot begins when Mia visits a nervous Charlie Brown by surprise. He must live up to the idealized version that he captured in his letters. His relationship with Snoopy becomes strained and the dog flees to a nearby town. The rest of the group, including Mia, goes out to find him.
“The story is really about what true friendship is,” said producer Bonnie Arnold. “True friends love you for who you are. We not only learn that as children, we must remember it throughout our lives.”
The creators chose Mia as a complete contrast to Charlie Brown: a confident, urban girl without a pet and who travels in a wheelchair. London was the ideal setting to take them out of their comfort zone.
There, Mia moves with ease as the gang faces revolving doors and the bustle of traffic. The jazz soundtrack accelerates to the rhythm of the city.
Snoopy also finds a new friend: an unnamed mixed-breed stray dog who walks on all fours. “He’s more of a dog, but they become friends. Although his actions are puppy-like, he’s street-hardened,” Arnold explained.
Authenticity and image
The script was written by Craig Schulz, son of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, along with Brian Schulz, Neil Uliano and Karey Kirkpatrick. To accurately portray life in a wheelchair, they consulted Disability Belongs.
Mia’s voice is by Lara Mehmet, a British wheelchair-using actress, chosen after a long audition process. She helped make the dialogue sound more authentic.
