Here’s the thing about Clifford the Big Red Dog: he was massive, playful, and he got into trouble all the time because he didn’t fit in. It’s a plot-flimsy character with a deeper message for kids (especially those who don’t fit in), but Universal is teaming with a company seasoned in stretching out children’s fare into feature run-times. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the studio is working with Illumination Studios (The Lorax) to bring the giant scarlet mutt to life. Screenwriter Matt Lopez (Bedtime Stories, Race to Witch Mountain, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) is set to write the character first introduced by Scholastic Books and author Norman Bridwell. All in all, it sounds like a solid partnership to bring a childhood icon to the big screen. They just have to find screens big enough now.