Kidlit series The Berenstain Bears is headed to the big screen courtesy of Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana and L.A.-based Walden Media, which on Wednesday announced it has secured the movie rights.

The family comedy — based on the popular books about a family of bears — will be a live-action film mixed with CG characters.

It will be coproduced by Montreal filmmaker Shawn Levy and his 21 Laps shingle — the prodco behind family fare including the Night at the Museum movies and Cheaper by the Dozen 2. Walden is best known for children’s films including the Chronicles of Narnia series and Charlotte’s Web.

‘We are excited to be involved in this collaborative project which will see the delightful and entertaining tales of the Bears finally hit the big screen,’ commented Nelvana president Doug Murphy in a release. Murphy will oversee the project for Nelvana alongside VP of international development Irene Weibel, and execs at 21 Laps and Walden.

Nelvana produced the animated Berenstain Bears TV series in 2003.

The Bears were created in 1962 by illustrators Jan and Stan Berenstain. The book series, published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, have generated over US$260 million in sales.